Editing Ashgabat (section)

==Architecture==
[[File:Yyldyz Hotel.jpg|thumb|[[Yyldyz Hotel]] in Ashgabat]]
[[File:Ashgabat IMG 5819 (26111153395).jpg|thumb|[[Ashgabat Fountain|Ashgabat Oguzkhan Fountain]]]]

===Post-1991===
Following independence in 1991, President [[Saparmurat Niyazov]] began hiring foreign architectural and construction firms, most prominently [[Bouygues]] of France and the Turkish firms [[Polimeks]] and Gap Inşaat, the latter a subsidiary of [[Çalık Holding]]. These firms blended Persian-style domes, which Niyazov favored, with Greco-Roman architectural elements such as pillars.<ref name=buig>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/7529|title=French Bouygues to build new buildings for ministry of foreign affairs and ministry of education in Ashgabat|date=October 29, 2008|publisher=Turkmenistan.ru|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726045840/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/7529|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=buig2>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/14896.html|title=President of Turkmenistan inaugurates new residence – Palace Complex "Oguzkhan"|date=May 19, 2011|publisher=Turkmenistan.ru|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026193919/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/14896.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=pricey>{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/third_turkmen_president_palace/24183704.html|title=Third Palace Is A (Pricey) Charm For Turkmen President|date=May 23, 2011|publisher=RFE/RL}}</ref><ref name=polimeks1>{{Cite web|url=http://polimeks.com/en/polimeks-construction|title=Polimeks Construction With all its projects|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805200635/http://polimeks.com/en/polimeks-construction|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=gap>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gapinsaat.com/completed-projects|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031213204/http://www.gapinsaat.com/completed-projects|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 31, 2015|title=Gap Inşaat Completed Projects}}</ref>

Following Niyazov's death, domes began to go out of fashion for buildings other than mosques, and public buildings began to take on more [[Modern architecture|modernist]] characteristics, often with a motif reflecting the structure's intended occupant. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building is topped by a globe of the Earth, inside which is a conference center; the Development Bank building is topped by a giant coin; the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry building is shaped like a stylized [[caduceus]], the dental hospital is shaped like a [[Molar (tooth)|molar]] and the international terminal of [[Ashgabat International Airport]] is shaped like a [[falcon]].<ref name=falcon>{{cite web|url=https://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/7061/wild-architecture-new-east|title=Architecture gone wild: the 12 most insanely great contemporary buildings of the New East|publisher=The Calvert Journal|date=November 2, 2016|first=Elise|last=Morton}}</ref> The dominant characteristic of new construction since 1991 has been nearly universal facing with white marble.<ref name=lb>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/International/2013/Feb-24/207704-turkmenistan-rebuilds-capital-into-marble-white-city.ashx#axzz2ha0cVVee|title=Turkmenistan rebuilds capital into marble 'white city'|publisher=Daily Star (Lebanon)/Agence France Presse|first=Anton|last=Lomov|date=February 24, 2013|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726191844/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/International/2013/Feb-24/207704-turkmenistan-rebuilds-capital-into-marble-white-city.ashx#axzz2ha0cVVee|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=ria>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20151217/1342501669.html|title=Ашхабад: беломраморный город любви|language=ru|date=December 17, 2015|publisher=Международное информационное агентство "Россия сегодня"}}</ref> Another recurring motif is the eight-pointed star of [[Oghuz Khagan|Oguz Han]], the largest of which is on the television tower and has entered the Guinness Book of World Records.<ref name=star>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=133|title=Звезда Огуз хана – в Книге рекордов Гиннесса|language=ru|date=October 30, 2011|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref><ref name=star2>{{cite web|url=https://www.tema.ru/travel/turkmenistan-1/|title=Туркмения. Часть I. Восьмиконечные звезды и гёли|date=May 31, 2014|language=ru|publisher=Артемий Лебедев}}</ref><ref name=varlamov>{{cite web|url=https://varlamov.ru/1747480.html|title=Ashgabat, Turkmenistan|first=Ilya|last=Varlamov|date=May 29, 2016|publisher=varlamov.ru}}</ref> The official Turkmen government guide book to Ashgabat refers to the star of Oguz Khan as "...the basic dominant of the whole architectural-art decor..."<ref name=guide />

After independence, the city architect's office ordered construction of many high-rise (generally 12-story) residential buildings. Modern construction techniques allow high-rise development with good seismic safety. Primarily consisting of residential towers, the first floor is typically used as retail space and for building maintenance.<ref name=ria/>

===Monuments and statues===
Ashgabat features many sculptures honoring Turkmen, Turkic, and other Islamic poets and heroes. Four statues, of Lenin, [[Alexander Pushkin]], [[Taras Shevchenko]], and [[Magtymguly]], date to the Soviet period, as do a statue and a bust of Turkmen composer [[Nury Halmammedov]]. Since then, however, much new sculpture has appeared. In Ylham (Inspiration) Park are found numerous busts and statues. Additional statues can be seen in the VDNH Park. A monumental statue of the current president was dedicated in May 2015 near Ashgabat Stadium. One also finds statues of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] and [[Alp Arslan]]. In addition to the statue of former President Niyazov atop the Neutrality Monument, a gilded statue of him stands before the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and a gilded seated statue of him graces the entry to the Turkmen Agricultural University.

Since independence in 1991, several monuments to features of Turkmenistan's governance have been erected: to neutrality, to the constitution, to the renaissance of Turkmenistan, to independence, as well as a special monument to former President [[Saparmurat Niyazov]]'s magnum opus, ''[[Ruhnama]]''.

The memorial complex in Bekrewe includes a statue of a bull with the Earth balanced on its horns, symbolizing the 1948 earthquake, and a statue of two traditionally dressed Turkmen warriors guarding a widow grieving the death of her husband in World War II. The exterior wall of the museum features bas reliefs depicting events in Turkmenistan's history.

In advance of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in September 2017, roughly one billion dollars was spent on widening and upgrading Ashgabat's major thoroughfares.<ref name=osm /> Several traffic circles were created, in which were placed mainly abstract monuments. As of 2020 the most recent addition to these are the Bicycle Monument ({{langx|tk|Welosiped binasy}}), which President Berdimuhamedov dedicated on June 3, 2020, and the Turkmen Alabay monument, dedicated on November 10, 2020.<ref name=bike>{{cite web|url=https://business.com.tm/post/5585/bicycle-monument-opened-in-ashgabat-on-world-bicycle-day|title=Bicycle Monument Opened in Ashgabat on World Bicycle Day|date=June 3, 2020|publisher=Business Turkmenistan}}</ref><ref name=alabay>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54894828|title=Turkmenistan leader unveils giant gold dog statue|date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

In May 2024, a [[Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural Park Complex|monument]] dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Turkmen poet and philosopher [[Magtymguly Pyragy]] was unveiled in Ashgabat, near [[Walk of Health]] at the foot of the [[Kopetdag]] mountain range.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tass.ru/obschestvo/20836235|title=В Ашхабаде открыли памятник поэту Фраги|website=TACC}}</ref> The 60-meter sculpture of the poet stands on a 20-meter pedestal, to which a majestic staircase with massive granite bowls leads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://azertag.az/ru/xeber/v_turkmenistane_otkryli_60_metrovyi_pamyatnik_poetu_mahtumkuli_fragi-3009874|title=В Туркменистане открыли 60-метровый памятник поэту Махтумкули Фраги - АЗЕРТАДЖ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/78189/v-ashhabade-torzhestvenno-otkryli-pamyatnik-poetu-mahtumkuli-fragi#google_vignette|title=В Ашхабаде торжественно открыли памятник поэту Махтумкули Фраги &#124; Общество}}</ref>

In October 2024, a statue of Kazakh poet [[Abai Qunanbaiuly]] was unveiled in Lachyn Park in Ashgabat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tdh.gov.tm/ru/post/42519/v-stolice-turkmenistana-otkryli-pamyatnik-abayu-kunanbajuly|title=В столице Туркменистана открыли памятник Абаю Кунанбайулы|website=tdh.gov.tm}}</ref>

===Controversies===
Much of the urban renewal since 1991 has involved demolition of traditional single-family residential housing, commonly with allegedly forced eviction of residents, and often without compensation to the homeowners. In particular, private homes rebuilt in neighborhoods flattened by the 1948 earthquake, many of which were never formally registered with the government, were subject to confiscation and demolition without compensation, as were former dacha communities like Ruhabat, Berzengi, and Choganly, which in nearly all cases lacked formal ownership documents.<ref name=hrw>{{cite web|url= https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/10/25/turkmenistan-open-letter-president-berdymukhadmedov-regarding-ongoing-expropriation#|title=Turkmenistan: Open Letter to President Berdymukhadmedov regarding ongoing expropriation and demolition of homes in Ashgabat and the surrounding Akhal region|date=October 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name=amnesty>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/turkmenistan-satellite-images-reveal-how-mass-forced-evictions-blight-upcoming-asian-games/|title=Turkmenistan: Satellite images reveal how mass forced evictions blight upcoming Asian Games|date=October 27, 2015|publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref><ref name=hrw2>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/04/turkmenistan-homeowners-evicted-denied-compensation|title=Turkmenistan: Homeowners Evicted, Denied Compensation|date=September 4, 2017|publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref><ref name=eur>{{cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/turkmenistan-the-human-toll-of-ashgabats-evictions|title=Turkmenistan: The Human Toll Of Ashgabat's Evictions|date=April 21, 2007|publisher=Eurasianet|first=Farangis|last=Najibullah}}</ref><ref name=statehum1>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/sca/136095.htm|title=Turkmenistan: 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices|date=2009|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref><ref name=statehum2>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/turkmenistan/|title=2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Turkmenistan|date=2019|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>

===First Baha'i Temple in the world===
[[File:Ashkabad Temple Bahai.jpg|thumb|left|First Bahá'í House of Worship 1908]]
{{Main|Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan}}

When Ashgabat was under [[Bahá'í Faith in Russia|Russian rule]], the number of Bahá'ís in the city rose to over 1,000, and a Bahá'í community was established, with its own schools, medical facilities and cemetery. The community elected one of the first Bahá'í [[Local Spiritual Assembly|local administrative institutions]]. In 1908 the Bahá'í community completed the construction of the first [[Bahá'í House of Worship]], sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of ''mašriqu-l-'aḏkār'' ({{langx|ar|مشرق اﻻذكار}}),<ref name="Smith">{{cite encyclopedia |last= Smith |first= Peter |encyclopedia= A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |title= Mashriqu'l-Adhkhár |year= 2000 |publisher= Oneworld Publications |location= Oxford |isbn= 1-85168-184-1 |page= [https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/235 235] |url= https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/235 }}</ref> where people of all religions may worship [[God]] without denominational restrictions.<ref name="iranica" /> The building was designed under the guidance of [[`Abdu'l-Bahá]] by Ustad' Ali-Akbar Banna Yazdi who also wrote a history of the Baha'is in Ashgabat.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cultural Change and Continuity in Central Asia|first=Shirin |last=Akiner|editor-last=Kegan |editor-first=Paul|year=1991|publisher=Routledge|page=293}}</ref><ref name="us_ashkabad">{{cite web|title=Baha'i House of Worship – Ashkabad, Central Asia |url=http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-ashkabad |access-date=2007-08-03 |year=2007 |publisher=The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808220600/http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-ashkabad |archive-date=August 8, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The House of Worship itself was surrounded by gardens, with four buildings at the four corners of the gardens: a school, a hostel where travelling Bahá'ís were entertained, a small hospital, and a building for groundskeepers.<ref name="us_ashkabad" />

Under the [[Religion in the Soviet Union#Policy toward religions in practice|Soviet policy towards religion]], the Bahá'ís, strictly adhering to their principle of obedience to legal government, abandoned these properties in 1928.<ref name="obey">{{cite book | last = Effendi | first = Shoghi | author-link = Shoghi Effendi | title = The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh | publisher = US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991 first pocket-size edition | date = 1936-03-11 | location = Haifa, Palestine |pages = 64–67 | url =http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/WOB/wob-34.html#pg64}}</ref> For the decade from 1938 to 1948, when it was seriously damaged by the earthquake, it was an [[art museum|art gallery]]. It was demolished in 1963.<ref name="iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Iranica |year= 1989 |article=Bahai temples | first = V.| last = Rafati |author2=Sahba, F.}}</ref>

=== Other notable structures===
The [[Arch of Neutrality]] was dismantled and re-erected in its original form in the south of the capital.

[[Turkmenistan Tower]], the television and radio broadcasting tower, at a height of 211 meters is the tallest structure in the country. It was dedicated on October 17, 2011.<ref name=ria />

The administrative center of Ashgabat as the national capital is on the [[Archabil highway]], where several ministries and agencies, as well as educational, research, and cultural centers, are found.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=2877|title=Будущее беломраморной столицы|publisher=Электронная газета "Золотой век"|access-date=2013-11-24|first=Владимир|last=Комаров|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006124748/http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=2877|url-status=dead}}</ref> The former Novofiryuzenskoye shosse (New Firyuza Highway) was rebuilt by Gap Inşaat in 2004.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

{{wide image|Panorama of Ashgabat.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Ashgabat at night}}