The Press Mosaic in Baku, Azerbaijan
The building that printed Soviet Azerbaijan's newspapers and books is shaped like an open book. It takes a moment to register from the pavement, and then it becomes difficult to see anything else: two great pages picked out in cut stone, spread wide across the front of the printing house. Worked into them is a history of writing. Egyptian hieroglyphs sit at one end and a Mayan calendar at the…
In the heart of Baku, Azerbaijan, lies a unique building that prints Soviet Azerbaijan's newspapers and books. Its striking facade resembles an open book, with two large pages cut out of stone, set against the building's facade. The design pays homage to a rich history of written languages, with Egyptian hieroglyphs at one end and a Mayan calendar at the other.
An array of script styles, including Chinese, Georgian, Armenian, and Arabic, fills the space between, creating a visually stunning mosaic that spans the front of the printing house.
Above the intricate figures, various Soviet press mastheads adorn the structure, including Iskra, the first socialist newspaper in Russia, and Pravda. The most reproduced political slogan of the twentieth century, "Workers of the world, unite!" sits prominently across the wall, written in Azerbaijani and Russian. This slogan adorns the building that spent decades reproducing it, a testament to the power of words and the enduring impact of the press.
The street outside the building is known as Mətbuat prospekti, Press Avenue, named after the printing house itself. It is a clear reflection of the building's significance in the city's cultural landscape. Although the mosaic has stood the test of time, attracting both praise and criticism, the building that houses it has not been spared from the trend of renovations that have swept across Baku. Many other Soviet-era mosaics have been clad over, renovated, or demolished, making this particular mosaic a rare survivor.
Despite the passage of decades, the building still functions as it did in its prime, though tenants have expressed concerns about the lack of recent renovations, with the lift being described as ancient. Yet, the mosaic remains a striking reminder of the building's historical importance and the role that the press has played in shaping Azerbaijan's identity.
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