Palace of De Boure, Baroque mansion in Baku, Azerbaijan
The Palace of De Boure is a two-storey stone mansion on Niyazi Street, facing the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall. Nicholas von der Nonne designed it with a symmetrical classical facade, a portico and horizontal divisions that set it apart from neighbouring buildings. Since 1951 it has housed the first building of the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan.
The mansion was designed by Nikolaus von der Nonne and completed in 1895 during Baku's oil industry boom. Its construction reflects how oil wealth transformed the city's architecture and built environment during that period.
The mansion blends European baroque forms with local building traditions, reflecting the wealth of Baku's oil industrialists. The ornate wall decorations and painted ceilings show how European tastes merged with regional craftsmanship.
The palace stands on Niyazi Street, opposite the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, and now houses the first building of the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan. Enter from Niyazi Street; the exhibition halls were expanded during the 2014–2018 restoration carried out with Italian and Azerbaijani specialists. The building is a state-protected architectural monument, so visit during museum opening hours.
The medallion on the facade once carried the letters "KT", the initials of the Caspian Partnership in Azerbaijani, but the mark was destroyed during a later repair. Between 2014 and 2018 Italian and Azerbaijani specialists removed seven layers of paint from the ceilings and walls to reach the first colour coat.
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