AZERBAIJAN // The cornerstone of post-Soviet Baku, this Zaha Hadid- designed masterpiece is like a 21st-century Sydney Opera House that's been draped with a layer of fondant icing. Vast and impressively original, the building was designed to express the optimism of a nation. The voluminous interior is a celebration of light and space, with undulating shapes morphing into more familiar structures like stairways and balconies. The centre hosts temporary exhibitions, events and a museum laid out over three floors, recounting Azerbaijani history and the role of the building's namesake, Azerbaijan's president from 1993 to 2003. The greatest delight, though, comes from simply wandering around the extraordinary exterior and discovering endless perspectives to contemplate and photograph. You'll never get bored.