12:11 - 20.05.2026

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May 20, Fineko/abc.az. A transformation strategy has been prepared on the basis of the concept of a "smart reserve" in Icherisheher.

ABC.AZ reports that Rauf Mahmud, the chairman of board of the Icherisheher State Historical & Architectural Reserve, as part of the event "Smart & Sustainable Cities Projects in Azerbaijan", organized in Baku as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Development Forum (WUF13).

"When we talk about smart and sustainable urban projects, it is extremely important to move from abstract concepts to practical results; as cities, as a rule, are evaluated not by strategies, but by their realization. At the same time, execution itself requires a clear vision and a clear strategy. That is why in Icherisheher, after the start of a new stage of reforms, we developed a detailed three-year transformation strategy around one central idea - the "smart reserve". This strategy integrates heritage conservation, digital transformation, infrastructure modernization, tourism development, public services, sustainable development, and community-centered governance into a single integrated management system. Most importantly, this is not just a concept document, and today we manage a huge portfolio of interrelated projects, from large-scale infrastructure initiatives to facade restoration, mobility management, modernization of museums, public services and digital systems, through a more systematic and project-oriented management model," he said.

According to the chair, the smart reserve approach forms an integrated urban ecosystem in Icherisheher: "Icherisheher is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, but it is also a vibrant urban area with its residents, business, tourism, infrastructure, transport and the daily tasks of urban management. For many years, historic cities around the world have been managed either as museum spaces or through retail reactive approaches. We realized that this model is no longer sustainable. Therefore, as I have already mentioned, we have applied an approach that we call the "smart reserve". For us, this is not just digitalization. It's about creating an integrated urban ecosystem. And most importantly, we believe that in historic cities, technology should work quietly in the background, while culture, architecture and community should be in the foreground."