Aghdam Tea House
{{Coord missing|Azerbaijan}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Tea House in Aghdam
| native_name = Ağdamda Çay Evi
| image = Ağdam çay evi.jpg
| caption = Replica Aghdam Teahouse in Guzanli
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| location = Aghdam, Azerbaijan
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| completion_date = 26 July 1986
| demolition_date = 1993
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| floor_count = 3
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The Aghdam Tea House was a public building in the city of Aghdam, Azerbaijan. It was one of the landmarks of the city.{{cite web |last1=Manenkov |first1=Kostya |title=Azerbaijani leader hails handover of region ceded by Armenia |url=https://apnews.com/article/azerbaijan-handover-region-armenia-2d0d88c012fdd16732cecd35d134cabf |website=AP News |access-date=20 June 2022 |language=en |date=20 November 2020}} Built in 1986, it was destroyed by Armenian troops in 1993. A replica was built nearby in 2015 and in 2024, local officials have announced plans to rebuild he original
History
The teahouse was based on the idea of the academician Khudu Mammadov{{Cite web |date=22 February 2021 |title=Aghdam’s famous ‘Tea house’ razed to ground by Armenian vandals |url=https://en.azvision.az/news/140138/news.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=en.azvision.az}} and with Naik Samadov as the chief architect.{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Nargis |date=2021-11-11 |title=Karabakh – Winter Wonderland 3 |url=https://nargismagazine.az/en/articles/karabakh-winter-wonderland-3/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Nargis magazine {{!}} Журнал Nargis |language=en}} The project was built near the Juma Mosque, in the mid 1980s, though it was initially objected by the soviet officials, due to its ostentatious architecture and the negative connotations of teahouses and their associated lifestyle. The teahouse was eventually approved as part of an anti-alcohol campaign and was opened on 26 July 1986
In addition to the regional officials, Vafa Guluzade, the head of the Culture Department of the CP CC of Azerbaijan SSR, also participated in the opening ceremony.{{cite web |title=Ağdamın simvolu - Çay evi |url=http://modern.az/articles/63623/1/#gsc.tab=0 |accessdate=31 January 2018 |publisher=modern.az}} The article published in the July 31, 1986, issue of "The Lenin Path", on the occasion of the opening of the tea house, reads:
{{cquote|"After the decision of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on the "Drunkenness and Alcoholization Measures", our district has a lot of activities. The Tea House, which is being used today, is of great importance in this respect. Role of the Tea House is indispensable for the workers to spend their leisure time effectively." " The Lenin Path" newspaper (Aghdam). 31 July 1986 }}
Design
The structure was centred around a wide pipe in the middle of the teahouse. On each side, small volumes of tubes were merged with structures. Each floor and partition was made of wood and internal pipes were embellished with wood and decorated with various ornaments. Each floor had four doors. The dome of the tea house was roofed with galvanized iron. In all the structure was composed of approximately 100 tons of metal.{{Cite web |title=Aghdam’s famous ‘Tea house’ razed to ground by Armenian vandals |url=https://en.azvision.az/news/140138/news.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=en.azvision.az}}
Destruction and copies
In 1993, the Tea House was vandalised and set on fire by Armenian armed forces resulting in the building being in ruins.
On May 10, 2015, a copy of the tea house was built in Guzanli settlement of Aghdam region.{{Cite web |date=May 2015 |title=Quzanlıda Ağdam şəhərindəki məşhur çay evinin bənzəri tikilib |url=https://azertag.az/xeber/Quzanlida_Agdam_seherindeki_meshur_chay_evinin_benzeri_tikilib-855145 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=azertag.az |language=az}}{{Cite web |title=In the last months of 1988, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenia and later from Nagorno-Karabakh were brought to the Aghdam region |url=https://muhaz.org/in-the-last-months-of-1988-tens-of-thousands-of-azerbaijanis-e.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=muhaz.org}} As part of a resettlement program in the area, there are plans to rebuild the teahouse at its original site, announced by Sabuhi Abdullayev in 2024, who is in charge of restoration and construction in the area.{{Cite web |last=Huseynova |first=Nalia |date=15 October 2024 |title=Azerbaijan to restore legendary "Tea House" in Aghdam {{!}} Caliber.Az |url=https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijan-to-restore-legendary-tea-house-in-aghdam |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=caliber.az |language=en}}
Gallery
File:Ruins of Agdam Tea House.jpg|The ruins of the Tea House after occupation