Building of Mayoralty of Baku

Building of Mayoralty of Baku
Azerbaijani: Bakı Şəhər İcra Hakimiyyətinin binası
Main facade of the building
Location within Azerbaijan
Alternative names	Building of Baku City Executive Power
General information
Type	Mansion
Architectural style	Baroque architecture
Address	Istiglaliyyat Street, 4
Town or city	Baku
Country	Azerbaijan
Coordinates	40°22′43″N 49°48′31″E / 40.3785°N 49.8086°E / 40.3785; 49.8086
Current tenants	Azerbaijani government
Construction started	1900
Completed	1904
Cost	400,000 Russian rubles
Client	Baku City Duma
Technical details
Floor count	2
Design and construction
Architect	Józef Gosławski

The Building of Mayoralty of Baku is an administrative building located in Baku, Istiglaliyyat Street, 4. The building was built in Baroque style in 1900-1904 on the basis of architect Józef Gosławski's project. The building is the last work of architect Gosławski. After the death of Gosławski in 1904, the project was initially led by Kazimierz Skórewicz, later by Józef Płoszko.

The building constructed on the order of Baku Duma is currently being used by Executive Authority of the Baku City. The building was also registered as a national architectural monument by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 2, 2001, No. 132.

In 1898, Kazimierz Skórewicz prepared detailed sketch project with assignment of State Duma, Construction Commission, which included Gosławski, Józef Płoszko, Skórewicz and Adolf Eichler. On 18 July 1898, after the Commission evaluated Skurvick's sketch project, it was decided to assign Gosławski the plan, façade works. It’s unknown to determine if Gosławski used Skórewicz’s ideas, since there is no sketch of Skórewicz in the archives.

Although the building was designed with side wings, the construction began with the main building, and the cost of such large construction was too heavy for the city treasury. On May 18, 1900, a solemn ceremony was held for groundbreaking of city duma and first administrative building of the city's personal services. The Construction Commission carefully monitored the construction progress and the quality process. Particular attention was paid to the quality of the stone chosen for facade walls, as it could have an effect not only on firmness, but also on the general impression.

On the eve of the construction of the first floor in the course of construction works, the governor of Baku requires the mayor to send the project to confirm it. He referred to the necessity of the governor's approval of the construction of public and private buildings for the community halls. According to some statements, Gosławski prepared a special project part of the building intended for the hall, "specially designed for the Duma sessions and designed as an amphitheater in the style of a parliamentary hall". The value of this additional building was 51,000 rubles, and the value of the whole building reached 441,174 rubles. Later this idea lost its importance. After the main construction of the building and the cleaning of the construction dump, the chief city gardener offered to plant "a garden to serve the beauty of architecture" in front of the building. He drafted the garden and in 1904 this project was implemented.