Yasmin Hashmi looks at the KNX market in Azerbaijan and the recent formation of the KNX Azerbaijan Userclub.
The Republic of Azerbaijan, nicknamed ‘The Land of Fire’, is part of the South Caucasus region. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia (Republic of Dagestan) to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. Its capital, Baku, is famed for its mediaeval walled Inner City.
Azerbaijan is a developing country and ranks 91st on the Human Development Index. It has a high rate of economic development, literacy, and a low rate of unemployment. The country’s economy is anchored on oil and gas production.
KNX in Azerbaijan
The new millennium saw a boom in building and the formation of many private companies involved in constructing apartment buildings and commercial buildings. The growth in the building market has also seen an increase in the use of KNX, in both residential and commercial projects. Indeed, one of the challenges facing the home automation sector in Azerbaijan is the lack of an allocated radio frequency, meaning that integrators are obliged to use only wired systems, and since KNX is clearly the market leader in this respect, it has benefitted as a result.
Among the KNX projects of note is the Flame Towers residential complex that employs over 8000 KNX devices. Each of its 144 residential apartments enjoys KNX control of lighting, air conditioning, music, door entry and windows.
Another noteworthy project is the Baku White House, which uses KNX to control virtually everything in the home. This won the prestigious Smart Home Award – Asia, in 2022.
KNX Azerbaijan Userclub
Sharif Karimov is the Director of systems integration company OKAL, which has the Flame Towers, Bona Dea International Hospital and Rolls Royce Motor Car building among its portfolio of KNX projects. He has been a KNX partner since 2012, and is in the second row of the World KNX Partner Ranking. He is also the President of the KNX Azerbaijan Userclub, which he set up in 2023 along with Farrukh Orujzade who is the club Secretary, and who has been a KNX Partner since March 2023.
The club already has ten members, and Karomiv expects all of the remaining KNX Partners in Azerbaijan to join soon. Fortunately for the userclub, the Baku White House is available as a showroom as well as a place for meetings and presentations, whilst training is being provided at the OKAL office in Baku.
In terms of how the market for building automation in Azerbaijan is developing, Sharif Karimov says, “We are working on growing this market. The userclub will help us to reach more people and show that KNX-based smart buildings is not the domain of any one person or company. There is a lot of business to be done, and there are a lot of professionals who can get involved.”
We wish the KNX Azerbaijan Userclub every success, and encourage interested parties to get in touch via knx.az.
Yasmin Hashmi is the Editor of KNXtoday magazine.
