With a brief to masterplan and architecturally develop community and leisure assets in the Upper Valley of Gabala, a mountainous region in the north of Azerbaijan known for its winter skiing and summer hiking, our solution creates a series of interconnected uses and pursuits, giving new focus to the area as a destination for domestic and international tourists in addition to responding to the needs of local residents.
Our approach carefully considers the relationships between geography, topography and landscape, weaving in reference to vernacular buildings and their typologies, and prioritising ease and good-sense movement across the full area.
Nodes distributed across the valley comprise a varied compliment of family-oriented hotels, private retreats and spas, residential villas, cultural centres, local craft and heritage-based retail, and hospitality venues.
