The Ismailiya building is one of the most memorable structures in Baku's city center. Baku oil magnate, philanthropist, and benefactor Aga Musa Nagiyev (1848-1919) built this unusual palace in memory of his son Ismail, who died of tuberculosis. He sent the renowned architect Iosif Gasparovich Plosko to Italy to select an architectural style, choosing the Doge's Palace in Venice as a model. Construction, approved by Nagiyev in 1907, was completed in 1913. Quotations from Imam Ali were inscribe.. Read more »d on the building's pediment. After its grand opening, the Ismailiya's spacious white-stone hall hosted meetings of the Muslim Charitable Society, gatherings of Muslim women, Baku's intelligentsia, and clergy congresses. The building suffered significant damage from gunfire, shelling, and fire during the March Events of 1918. It was restored in 1923 under the direction of architect Dubov, during which the inscriptions on the facade and sides were removed. Since then, various organizations and institutions, including the Azerbaijan Survey and Research Society, the Archaeological Commission, the Turkic Culture Society, and the Manuscript Fund, have occupied the building. Today, it houses the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
The Ismailiya building, a prominent landmark in central Baku, was commissioned by Aga Musa Nagiyev in memory of his son. Designed by Iosif Gasparovich Plosko, based on the Doge's Palace in Venice, it was constructed between 1907 and 1913. Following its completion, it served as a venue for various societal gatherings. Damaged during the March Events of 1918, it was restored in 1923, losing its original inscriptions. Subsequently, it housed numerous organizations before becoming the current home of the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
Azerbaijan
