The two-day symposium titled “Islamic Architectural Heritage of Shusha City,” organized by the Shusha City State Reserve Department and supported by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), successfully concluded in Shusha. The event took place as part of the celebrations marking Shusha’s designation as the “Cultural Capital of the Islamic World” for 2024.
Bringing together over 80 architects and experts from countries including Türkiye, Egypt, the UAE, Tunisia, Kenya, Jordan, Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Azerbaijan, the symposium provided a platform for in-depth discussions on key topics related to Islamic architecture. Panels focused on issues such as “Urban Regeneration of Historical Fabrics,” “Modern Life of Monuments,” and “Sustainable Architecture: Material, Design, and Implementation.”
Prominent figures such as Aydin Karimov, the Special Representative of the Azerbaijani President in the Shusha district, Ilgar Isbatov, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Committee of Urban Planning and Architecture, Pietro Laureano, representing UNESCO, and Bilal Çelebi from ICESCO, underscored the historical and architectural significance of Shusha. They emphasized that the symposium contributed to the global understanding and preservation of Islamic architectural heritage.
During the event, participants were given a guided tour of Shusha’s restored historical landmarks, including mosques and fortified walls. Tural Novruzov, Executive Director of the Shusha City State Reserve Department, highlighted the extensive restoration and reconstruction efforts aimed at reviving the city’s cultural heritage.
The symposium has been hailed as an important step in promoting architectural dialogue and fostering international cooperation in preserving the Islamic architectural legacy of Shusha.