{"id":419,"date":"2014-06-30T11:23:18","date_gmt":"2014-06-30T11:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/covcasbulletin.info\/?p=419"},"modified":"2014-07-01T11:46:49","modified_gmt":"2014-07-01T11:46:49","slug":"zaha-hadids-prestigious-award-for-building-to-glory-of-azerbaijan-dictator-criticised","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/covcasbulletin.info\/?p=419","title":{"rendered":"Zaha Hadid\u2019s prestigious award for building to glory of Azerbaijan dictator criticised"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By NICK CLARK<\/p>\n

The Independent<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Design Museum came under fire today after awarding the UK\u2019s most prestigious design award to a building in Azerbaijan bearing the name of a repressive former leader.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Human<\/a>
Human rights groups said Dame Zaha had a duty to raise issues when working for repressive regimes (Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, designed by acclaimed architect Dame Zaha Hadid, was awarded the Design Museum Design of the Year for 2014 this evening, with one judge calling it as \u201cpure and sexy as Marilyn\u2019s blown skirt\u201d.<\/p>\n

Yet human rights groups have criticised Azerbaijan\u2019s current and former regimes and suggested that it was unhelpful to promote a building bearing Aliyev\u2019s name.<\/p>\n

Amnesty International had accused him of human rights abuses, ballot irregularities and intimidating the opposition while in power. The former Soviet secret police general ruled for 30 years, first as its communist leader and then as president.<\/p>\n

The building was commissioned by the former leader\u2019s son Ilham, who took over as president following Aliyev\u2019s death in 2003 and remains in power.<\/p>\n

Rory Olcayto, acting editor of Architects\u2019 Journal, said the building \u201cmay be a stunning example of contemporary architecture but it does seem odd for the Design Museum to celebrate a building that honours a former KGB dictator”.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIt\u2019s a subject the Design Museum director Dejan Sudjic knows a lot about: his book the Edifice Complex explores the power relationships between architects and dictators. Perhaps he is trying to provoke a debate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The award, which has been running for seven years, has previously been awarded to the designers of the 2012 Olympic torch, a folding plug and the Government\u2019s overhauled website Gov.uk.<\/p>\n

Hugh Williamson, director of Human Rights Watch\u2019s Europe and central Asia division, said Aliyev \u201cwas an authoritarian leader and his son is now\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are widespread human rights abuses going on now in Azerbaijan and that is the context in which such a prize is given,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s the context in which an architectural company is working there. We wouldn\u2019t comment on where businesses should work, but they should be aware of human rights issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rebecca Vincent, advocacy director of Art for Democracy an Azerbaijani human rights group, said such a prize was unhelpful: \u201cAny international group with an interest in Azerbaijan should be raising these issues stronger and clearer. And the arts are deeply connected with human rights because of the freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that the situation in a regime that had systematically worked to silence its critics \u201cis getting worse not better\u201d, adding: \u201cIt would be really helpful if a well-known figure like Dame Zaha Hadid could raise these issues while working in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dame Zaha, who is the first woman to win the prize, has faced criticism since first taking on the commission.<\/p>\n

Ekow Eshun, a writer and broadcaster who was a member of this year\u2019s jury, responded to the concerns saying: \u201cIn the end, we\u2019re asked to judge a design prize on the basis of the work itself and what we see in front of us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe view we took was it was a singular piece of architecture and uniquely realised. People can look at the wider context and that is an entirely valid response. Our role was to look at a piece of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniel Libeskind, who is working on the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site, said last year that in moral terms architects \u201chave to take responsibility for their work\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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