Zivar bay Garay bay oghlu Ahmadbayov was the first Azerbaijani architect with higher education. After the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Z.Ahmadbayov became the chief architect of Baku and held this post until 1922. Zivar bay Ahmadbayov was born on February 16, 1873 in Shamakhi, where he later received his secondary education. In 1902, Zivar bay Ahmadbayov graduated from Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. From this year to 1917, Z.Ahmadbayov worked as an architect in Baku Governorate, then in Baku City Council. He was appointed the chief architect of Shamakhi in 1907.

Z.Ahmadbayov invested a lot of time and effort in creation of proper planning and development of the blocks, as well as in the preparation of a new design for the Juma Mosque which was destroyed during the earthquake. He made extensive use of national architectural traditions in his designs. Two of the largest mosques in Baku, the Baku-Blue Mosque (1912-1913) and Taza Pir Mosque (1905-1914) were constructed according to the projects of Z.Ahmadbayov, as well as mosque in Goychay (1906), Imam mosque in Shamakhi (1909), Juma mosque (1909-1918), Saadat school (1911-1912) in Baku, Maternity House (1910), Children’s Hospital (currently the Scientific-Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood Protection; 1914-1916). Z.Ahmadbayov is also an author of projects of several residential buildings in Baku and Shamakhi. He also turned to European classicism in his works along with national culture elements.

Z.Ahmadbayov linked the traditions of Azerbaijani folk architecture with that of the East and Europe. In 1917 he, together with Omar bey Abuyev, established the society for the Protection and Patronage of Monuments of Islamic Art. He created society “New Shirvan” for restoration of Shamakhi in 1919. Z.Ahmadbayov who worked as chief architect of Baku during the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan prepared a project of memorial complex at Chambarakand cemetery (now known as Martyrs’ Lane) to eternalize the memory of Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers who died during the liberation of the city from Dictatorship of Central Asia (1918, September 15) consisting of Dashnaks and Esers-Mensheviks. This design, which has the appearance of a hexagonal tomb, skilfully used medieval Azerbaijani architectural traditions.
After the April occupation (1920), by decision of the People’s Commissariat of Education of Azerbaijan (November 13, 1920) Z.Ahmadbayov was commissioned to prepare the project of restoration and reconstruction of the Taghiyev’s Theatre, which was burned down for the second time.

Zivar bay Garay bay oglu Ahmadbayov died in Baku, in 1925.

On May 26, 2011, the opening ceremony of Zivar bay Ahmadbayov’s monument, situated in a park named after him, near Nizami Ganjavi metro station was held in Baku with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. And it is no coincidence that the monument to the talented architect was erected here. Because the author of the building constructed to the left of the metro station is Z.Ahmadbayov. The street in front of the metro is also named after Z.Ahmadbayov.
 

Recommended literature:

1. Fətullayev-Fiqarov, Şamil Seyfulla oğlu. Mülki mühəndis Zivər bəy Əhmədbəyov = Civil Engineer Ziverbey Ahmadbeyov / Ş. S. Fətullayev-Fiqarov ; layihənin rəh. E. Ə. Qasımzadə ; Azərbaycan Respublikasının Memarlar İttifaqı. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2013. - 40 s.
2. Фатуллаев-Фигаров, Шамиль Сейфулла оглы. Бакинские архитекторы : конец XIX - начало XX веков / Ш. С. Фатуллаев-Фигаров ; рук. проекта Э. А. Касимзаде ; Союз Архитекторов Азербайджанской Республики. - Баку : Шарг-Гарб, 2013. - 328 с.
3. Azərbaycan Xalq Cümhuriyyəti Ensiklopediyası : 2 cilddə / red. heyəti: Y. M. Mahmudov [et al.] ; baş red. Y. M. Mahmudov. I cild. - Bakı : Lider nəşriyyat, 2004. - 440 s.