Megaproject in Baku – The Timelapse Documentation of the Crescent Development Project
- MK timelapse
- Aug 13
- 7 min read
Over 10 Years of Timelapse in Azerbaijan – The Crescent Bay Project in Baku
About the Crescent Development Project
The Crescent Development Project, also known as The Crescent Bay, is one of the most ambitious urban development initiatives in the entire Caucasus region. Located in the heart of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, the project stretches along the city’s waterfront, directly on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
With its striking high-rises, modern architecture, and unique location both on and by the water, the project symbolizes the rapid transformation Azerbaijan has undergone over the past two decades.
Designed to be an architectural landmark of this transformation, the Crescent Development Project consists of three main structures: the iconic Crescent Hotel, shaped like a half-moon and built on an artificial island offshore; the 210-meter office tower, The Crescent City; and the residential and retail complex, The Crescent Place. Together, they form a new urban centerpiece along the coast.
Construction officially began in 2012, marking the launch of one of the most technically challenging building projects in the region. A particular highlight was the foundation of the hotel, which required hundreds of piles to be driven up to 76 meters deep into the seabed - an extraordinary feat of engineering. Today, the complex defines Baku’s skyline and stands as a symbol of the ambition and forward-looking spirit of a rising nation.
Iconic Architecture: The Arch Tower of Crescent Bay
Situated just off the shoreline of Crescent Bay, a truly unique structure has risen on a purpose-built artificial island: the Crescent Hotel - a spectacular high-rise shaped like a rising crescent moon. With its striking arch design, it serves as both the visual and symbolic centerpiece of the entire development and lends its name to the project.
The shape of the building resembles a crescent arching high above the water. The arc is supported by two massive towers, each rising 32 stories, connected by a central structure. This central span - the linking segment of the arch - was not assembled in place, but pre-assembled on the ground and then lifted into position with precision using cables and hydraulic lifting systems. This technically demanding operation required millimeter-accurate coordination over the course of several days- and can be seen in our timelapse footage.
Another major challenge was laying the foundation for the structure in open water -at a location where no solid ground had previously existed. To anchor the load-bearing structure securely, hundreds of reinforced concrete piles were driven up to 76 meters deep into the seabed of the Caspian Sea- one of the largest pile foundations ever executed in Azerbaijan. The island itself had to be reclaimed and stabilized before the actual construction phase could begin.
Architecturally, the building breaks new ground: its unique combination of curvature, height, and a free-standing central structure is unparalleled worldwide, making the Crescent Hotel a new symbol of the city and modern engineering excellence. The glass façade reflects light and water, giving the building a different character depending on the time of day. Especially at sunrise and sunset, the arch’s silhouette becomes a striking feature of Baku’s skyline - and a favorite motif for tourists.
Throughout our more than ten years of timelapse documentation, this iconic building has been our primary focus. Our cameras captured every phase of its construction from multiple angles - from the foundation work in the water all the way through to completion.
Our Timelapse Technology at the Crescent Deleopment Project
The documentation of the Crescent Development Project spanned over more than a decade, and our technology evolved alongside the project. From the very beginning, it was clear that systems used for such a long period needed to be reliable, robust, and low-maintenance. The equipment was adapted in several phases to keep pace with the technical standards and progress on the construction site.
Phase 1 began in 2012 with the deployment of three camera systems. At that time, we used our first generation of housings based on Canon G10 cameras. These systems were installed directly on tall light poles around the construction site, providing us with the initial reliable footage from the project’s start. An additional camera was mounted on a dock, offering a unique view from the water towards the future arch-shaped building.
In 2013, the first major technical upgrade took place. The old housings were replaced by a new, more rugged generation featuring significantly improved weather protection and an integrated self-cleaning system. The cameras were upgraded to Panasonic models with 16-megapixel resolution. Data transmission was handled via a custom-developed SD interface. This upgrade not only brought higher image quality but also greatly enhanced long-term stability - especially against challenges like concrete dust, saltwater, and intense sunlight along the Caspian Sea. Notably, these cameras were the first to use a wear-free electronic shutter, enabling reliable documentation over extended time periods.
The final third phase began in 2018. During this stage, all systems were revamped once again, featuring new control technology and now equipped with an Olympus DSLR as the imaging unit, offering a resolution of 40 megapixels.
To ensure seamless coverage of the entire construction process, all cameras operated continuously at an interval of one image per minute, resulting in approximately six million images per perspective by the end.
The interchangeable lenses used covered different fields of view - two systems with 60-degree angles and one with a super wide-angle of 135 degrees - perfect for capturing a complete view of the arch even from relatively short distances.
The highlight of the construction process was the spectacular lift of the central span of the arch building. In close coordination with the site management, the capture interval on all systems was reduced to one image every 10 seconds for several weeks to document this unique moment with maximum image density and precision.
Since the last upgrade in 2018, all systems have operated virtually maintenance-free until the project's completion in 2024. Power supply and water for the self-cleaning systems were checked approximately every 12 months by local partners. Thanks to this combination of well-engineered technology and local support, we were able to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality documentation over twelve years - and the results speak for themselves.
Systems
3x MK V40
Resolution
40 Megapixels
Interval
1 Picture a minute (Span lifting: One picture every 10 seconds)
Field of View
60 - 135 Degrees
Highlights
Multiple Upgrades Over 12 Years
12 Years of Continuos Operation
Supporting a construction site over twelve years means much more than just setting up cameras and regularly capturing images. It requires adaptability, endurance, and a good dose of improvisation.
When we began installing our first systems at The Crescent Bay in 2012, Azerbaijan was in the midst of an economic boom. The country was rapidly developing, but many structures and infrastructures familiar from Europe were still in their infancy. Few people spoke English, and many parts we needed to source locally were either unavailable or extremely hard to find.
One of the best examples: to get necessary parts or accessories, we simply showed the taxi driver a photo and hoped he would take us somewhere that might have it. Often, we ended up in small workshops or markets that wouldn’t have been found online in any way.
Even getting a suitable SIM card for data transmission was an adventure on its own: In 2012, many providers in the country didn’t yet have websites, information was scarce, and the activation of modems in mobile routers required approval from government authorities.
But it wasn’t just the initial conditions that challenged us - flexibility was required throughout the entire period. The construction site evolved, new buildings were erected, and access routes were changed. Despite these shifts, our camera positions had to remain stable to ensure continuous and comparable documentation. During this time, we upgraded the camera technology twice - always aiming to improve quality and reliability while minimizing maintenance efforts.
Early on, it became clear that the waterside location posed special environmental challenges: dirt, concrete dust, and saltwater initially caused frequent front glass contamination. However, with the switch to a new housing featuring an automatic wiper system in 2013, this problem was permanently solved.
Despite the long timeframe, maintenance demands were surprisingly low. After the upgrade, our systems operated largely autonomously. A local partner occasionally refilled the wiper water and checked the power supply at longer intervals - nothing more was required. This allowed us to provide uninterrupted documentation of the Crescent Development Project over twelve year - in an environment that changed just as dramatically as the construction site itself.
A New Landmark for Baku
With the completion of the iconic crescent-shaped building in 2024, the Crescent Development Project reached its architectural pinnacle - and for us at MK timelapse, a special journey spanning over a decade came to a close.
The crescent-shaped Crescent Hotel was at the heart of our work. We documented it from multiple angles - from its initial foundation in the water to the final closing of the arch and the completion of the façade. It stands as a unique monument, and we’re truly proud of the comprehensive documentation we created.
From over 18 million individual images, a timelapse film was produced that even captivated Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Arif qızı Əliyeva during the project’s inauguration (watch it here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_0s85G46u8). For us, it’s a special feeling to have accompanied this transformation for so many years - and now to share the finished masterpiece with the world.
The finished film is now available on our YouTube channel.
🎬 Watch now: https://youtu.be/mp3UfNv0lGc
More about our technology: https://www.mktimelapse.com/technology