Nikolai Bayev

• Name — Nikolai Bayev • Born — October 6, 1875 • Birthplace — Astrakhan, Russian Empire • Died — 5 August 1952 • Place of death — Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — Architect, civil engineer

Baev was born in Astrakhan on September 12, 1875. He was a relative and childhood friend of Mariinsky Opera singer Nadezhda Papayan. He studied in local gymnasium and when studying he also expressed love towards arts, music and painting. Bayev attended the Saint Petersburg Institute of Civil Engineering, from which he graduated in 1901. From 1911 to 1918 he worked as the main architect of Baku. During this period he constructed more than 100 buildings in Baku, including the Great Theatre of the Mailov Brothers (modern days Azerbaijan State Opera Theatre, 1911), Sabunchi Railway Station, a residential sector in the former Ermenikend area of Baku, and other buildings. In 1927 Bayev moved to Yerevan and from 1929 to 1930 worked as the head of ArmSelStroy (Armenian agency for rural construction), where he constructed about 200 buildings, among them Pioneer's Palace of Yerevan, State Bank of Armenian SSR, Ministry of Justice, Yerevan Mechanical factory, old hall of Sundukyan Theatre, "Ararat" trust buildings, etc. In 1945 he was awarded by the Honorary diploma of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR. He was a member of Armenian Union of Architects (1942). Bayev's personal archive (1896-1952) is a part of Yerevan State Archive. • Illustration — Gani Mammadov Residence • Illustration — Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, 1911 • Illustration — The former State Bank of Armenia building, Yerevan

• Nikoghayos Baev • It is a taboo in Azerbaijan that some of best buildings in Baku were constructed by Armenian architects, says Yerevans major architect. Aravot daily, february 2013