New Contract in Azerbaijan: Entrance Gate for the Silk Way Cargo Village

Waagner Biro steel and glass GmbH (WBSG) continues its long-standing success story in Azerbaijan. With the new entrance gate for the Silk Way Cargo Village within the Alat Free Economic Zone, WBSG has secured another prestigious contract in the region.

The project builds on numerous successful projects in Azerbaijan. As early as 2011, Waagner Biro steel and glass was awarded the European Steel Design Award for the Baku Tollgate, the striking entrance to Heydar Aliyev International Airport. This was followed by other major projects at Baku Airport, including the International Terminal, the VVIP Terminal, and other sophisticated building envelopes.

The new entrance gate to the Silk Way Cargo Village is designed as a free-form lattice shell structure approximately 100 meters long and about 23 meters wide. The structure touches the ground on only one side and cantilevers far out over the access road. A Y-shaped pylon and prestressed steel cables provide the necessary stability and give the structure its striking appearance. The shell surface covers more than 2,000 square meters and will be clad with over 1,000 perforated aluminum panels. The gold-colored elements echo the design of the former Baku Tollgate and create an architectural link between the projects. At the same time, they form an entrance structure visible from afar, underscoring the importance of the Silk Way Cargo Village as an international logistics center.

The technical complexity of such projects often becomes apparent only upon closer inspection. Even the Baku Tollgate was structurally far more challenging than its simple form would suggest. The elliptical arch, which is more than 72 meters wide and 28 meters deep, is supported by just two concrete foundations. A cable mesh comprising 800 gold-colored expanded metal panels forms the building’s distinctive building envelope. During installation, the ring girder had to be preloaded in a targeted manner to account for the structure’s subsequent deflection.

Innovative engineering, precise planning, and close collaboration with the client are also central to the new entrance gate. Especially for free-form steel structures of this scale, early-stage technical development and the optimization of production and installation are crucial factors for success.

With this new contract, Waagner Biro steel and glass is further expanding its strong market position in Azerbaijan and once again demonstrating its expertise in the construction of complex steel and facade structures. The project combines architectural excellence, technical innovation, and economic feasibility—qualities that have defined Waagner Biro steel and glass’s work for decades.