Flame Towers

The Flame Towers are a complex of three high-rise buildings and one of the principal symbols of modern Baku. Their form evokes tongues of fire from the city’s coat of arms and emphasizes the historic importance of fire in Azerbaijani culture. Construction began in 2007, was completed in 2012, and the complex officially opened in 2013.

Each tower has a different function. One contains the five-star Fairmont hotel with panoramic views of the city and Caspian Sea, another houses private residential apartments, and the third serves as an office center. The buildings share engineering systems and underground parking.

Their façades are entirely covered with LED screens. After dark, they become a vast light show displaying animated flames, Azerbaijan’s national colors, and figures waving the national flag. The illumination is visible from many parts of the city and is considered among the most striking in the world. The complex also contains restaurants, a cinema, spa facilities, and public spaces.

Baku’s towers symbolize the ‘Land of Fire,’ where the history of oil and the region’s hot climate meet contemporary design. Their lower floors are concrete, while the upper structures appear to float on giant steel frames. Foundations extending nearly 40 meters underground allow the buildings to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude seven. Construction of the complex was featured in an episode of Build It Bigger on the Discovery and Science channels. The towers have also entered popular culture, appearing in a mission in Battlefield 4.