On May 18, 1900, the foundation of the Baku City Duma (now the building of the executive authority of the city of Baku) was laid. This beautiful, majestic building has become a landmark of the city. The author of the project - the architect Goslavsky - generously showed his talent. The administrative building was supposed to give Nikolaevskaya Street, which is in the process of formation, a large scale.
Initially, the building of the Duma was designed as a two-storey building with a semi-basement floor, but in such a way that, if necessary, it was possible to add a third floor and add wings. Due to the favorable location of the site, some vowels thought to build a building immediately three-story, with outbuildings, to use all the advantages of the site. At the same time, Goslavsky drafted a three-story building approved by the Governor of the Caucasus, Prince M. Golitsyn.
Adhering to the classical scheme of composition, the author of the project created a symmetrical building, emphasizing the main axis of the tower and opposing it to horizontal division of the main volume. When designing the Duma, Goslavsky spared no creative energy, and the city showed an enviable generosity in allocations. The building of the Duma seemed to confirm the widespread opinion that Baku is a city of fabulous wealth.
The construction commission was engaged in the selection of high-quality limestone for cladding facades and monitored the integrity of the construction and architectural details. To decorate the facade, from Italy delivered a red decorative brick, colored marble.
The Baku city head A. Novikov noted that the building was “built luxuriously, at 400,000 rubles. According to estimates, a large, several floors, with marble staircases, with a red, especially durable brick for covering some parts of the facade, drawn from abroad ".
