The theme of “Aravot” online “Face to Face” talk show is discussing between the sculptor Ferdinand Arakelyan and architect Sarhat Petrosyan
Aram Abrahamyan – I want you to express your opinion of the implemented or ever be implemented projects of “Old Yerevan”.
Sarhat Petrosyan – It has been under discussion since 1970-80’ to concentrate demolished and collapsing buildings of pre-Tamanyan Yerevan in one place. For the beginning, Alaverdyan Street, not Republican Street has been discussed, and in early 2000, I was one of the apologists for the protection of monuments on Byuzand and Aram Streets. Architect Levon Vardanyan suggested the idea to establish an Old Yerevan district throughout the surrounded territory of Aram, Byuzand, Yeznik Koghbatsy and Abovyan Streets. At that time, still in both sides of Aram and Byuzand Streets, the pre-Tamanyan buildings of historical value were preserved, and the idea was very good. We, ourselves, along with youth activist joined and seemed to achieve success. In the next 10 years, the objective for which the old Yerevan was established devaluated. Today, when we are talking about Afrikyan’s building that needs to be moved because there are multistoried and elite buildings in front of it, the same situation will occur in the “Old Yerevan” district, because in the last 10 years, 16-18-storeyed apartment buildings were built in front of it.
A. A. – Therefore, there should not be such a “reserve”, where the old buildings should be gathered.
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Ferdinand Arakelyan – It is strange that there is no such thing in the world to build by demolishing. There is building through building. It is very truly said about these high-rise apartment buildings, no investor will come for building a 2-storeyed building. But, there is one thing, to which we do not have the right, to demolish the old beautiful building and build a new one. For instances, a small thing cannot be changed in the Old Prague, it is impossible. We wanted to put up a monument in Budapest, and I was the author of it, there was a high-rise building, they had gathered to find out how to cut and build within the rhythm… A huge building is built neat “Hrazdan” stadium, an enormous thing, there is no art, no picture, no emotion, suppose there are a lot of apartments there, but what it gives. Once, I told Levon Vardanyan to demolish, you have already demolished about 30 buildings, but have you built any of them?
A. A. – But the stones are numbered when demolishing.
F. A. – It is a false thing, they will collect and pile up one on the other, that’s all, they had also numbered the stones of Lenin’s pedestal, but where are they? Whereas this was a masterpiece.
A. A. – In other words, you’re saying that there is no faith now, and that the stones that are laid on Glendale Hills, will turn into something out of it?
S. P. – Yes, including that, and, secondly, also one of the reasons, why “Old Yerevan” has become topical, because several more buildings are stuck in some people’s throat. They were supposed to be demolished under the name of “Old Yerevan”; there are still 7 more buildings that are at risk, and there are buildings in the list of monuments that must be moved. God forbid! We are not against and we say, let Afrikyan building remain in its place, go and build Old Yerevan. Start the Old Yerevan, prove, gain public confidence, then build, but, no, there is a problem here to get rid of the building, because I am almost sure that the Old Yerevan will not come true, because economically you are correct, it is not advisable. Any investor who can build an 18-storeyed building would not build a 2-storeyed building.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
