(Dedicated to the 35th Anniversary of the State Independence of the Republic of Tajikistan)
On October 14, 1924, the Second Session of the Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) adopted a resolution on the establishment of the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Uzbek SSR. This document marked the beginning of a new historical stage in the formation of Tajik statehood.
Continuing this process, on October 16, 1929, Tajikistan was transformed into the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, and on December 5 of the same year, it became a separate union republic within the USSR. The adoption of the first Constitution (April 29, 1929) provided a legal foundation for further state development.
Formation of Dushanbe as a capital city
Since the 1920s, Dushanbe began to develop as a political and economic center. In 1926, specialists in construction and architecture were invited to Tajikistan to support urban and architectural development.
One of the first professional architects was Pyotr Ivanovich Vaulin, who in 1927 proposed the initial city plan with three main streets. This project is considered the foundation of Dushanbe’s urban development.
In 1935–1937, under the leadership of the renowned architect Nikolai Varfolomeevich Baranov, the first master plan of Dushanbe (then Stalinabad) was developed and approved in 1938. This plan ensured systematic urban growth.
A number of architects and engineers made significant contributions to the development of Dushanbe’s architecture, including: Pyotr Ivanovich Vaulin, Nikolai Varfolomeevich Baranov, Vsevolod Glebovich Veselovsky, Dmitry Ivanovich Bilibin, Stefan Lukich Anisimovich, Sergey Vladimirovich Kutin, and Vladimir Alekseevich Afanasyev.
In particular, V.G. Veselovsky is the author of the master plan of the Tajik State University for 8,000 students (1974).
With the establishment of design organizations, including “Tajikgiprostroy,” rapid urban development began, and Dushanbe gradually transformed into a modern city.
On September 9, 1991, Tajikistan gained its state independence. From this period, the development of national architecture and modern urban planning began.
During the years of independence, a number of important structures were built, including:
the Ismaili Somoni Monument Complex (1999), modern parks and boulevards, and administrative and cultural buildings.
This process shaped the new architectural image of the capital, and Dushanbe became one of the most beautiful cities in the region.
By the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan dated April 17, 2022, No. 203, the “Strategy for the Development of the Construction Sector until 2030” was adopted. This document provides for sustainable urban development, the use of modern technologies, and improvement of construction quality.
Today, Dushanbe, as the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan, is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. The development of its architecture and urban planning is the result of the work of many generations of architects and engineers.
The main task of modern architects is to ensure a comfortable, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing living environment for the population. Young people should contribute to the further development of the capital by applying modern knowledge and advanced experience.
Fozilov Zarifbek Kobilovich
Head of the Department of Construction and Architecture
Technical College of the Tajik Technical University named after Academician M. Osimi
