This is how an American architect Michael Carapetian thinks, who had left his trademark in various corners of our planet. Due to his projects airports, buildings, museums and villas were built. He with amusement speaks about the landscape of his constructions in Helsinki, Osaka, Venice and Los Angeles. He alerts the same issue in Yerevan in terms of protection the nature and the landscape. On these days the pan-Armenian conference of architects proceeds in Yerevan, which is full of eloquent and idealistic desires. And in order not to make this huge event declarative, which hosted over 200 architects of Armenian descent, it is really worth to put a new insight on the landscape and nature that surrounds us. People, who grew up on different land and passed through different education, may help us cast a fresher insight on things, which have become dusty and polluted. These people may be able to open our eyes and implement a project of saving Yerevan. At any rate Carapetian is one of the few architects, who can offer concrete steps besides mere slogans during discussions.
– Mr. Carapetian can this event become a practical platform or will end with official and beautiful speeches?
– When I received an invitation from architect Narek Sargsyan to participate in this conference I told him that I was coming over not to make official speech but to take practical steps. I don’t need any speeches. But so far we have been witnessing only speeches and no serious conversations. If there are concrete debates it will be very good and if not I don’t think the conference will bring any use. I have attempted to start professional debates many times.
– How is the national style demonstrated in architecture?
– The national style was not understandable. Now the arches of Tamanyan are considered national. But we forget that Tamanyan only examined the arch and certain motives of arches were used in certain constructions. Once upon a time it was a good try but we cannot always use those. The construction of new style churches is considered national approach. And I am sure that people don’t need new churches. People are looking for comfort. I was always interested in structures, which people construct by themselves. Let’s say they are picking Soviet blocks and are trying to adapt to their life routine and desires. Look at the closed balconies and you will see what national architecture is.
– You are offering a project for small downtown of Yerevan to remodel the area of Saint Catholicos church. Your project doesn’t offer ambitious and multi-storey buildings. However, there is another project, the volume and amount of which can destroy the exterior of Yerevan. And it seems that this project is going to be adopted because it cannot be considered a good one.
– The Saint Catholicos church had been hidden among buildings for many years and now it’s opened and left bare. This church is a mysterious object, which needs protection. But the architects offer to build a bigger church behind it, which will include a library and the office of the religions leader will be located. The small church will be duplicated and a bigger one will be constructed. It becomes a decoration. It is artificial augmentation.
– Besides that it will extremely fill the street. I am sure that the residents of Yerevan will raise their complaints when they find out that two churches will be built next to each other. Will you be speaking about this issue during the conference?
– I was yesterday saying that the project should be stopped and people must know what’s planned to be built. It is necessary to start truthful and professional conversations and new tender for a new project must be announced. And it’s not right to build a huge church, which name is going to be Saint Anna. It may have a 18th century design but it’s definitely not a 21st century approach because we are removing from the sight a beautiful historic monument and we cover it with a big church. It will become Disneyland. I have told the sponsor of the church Hrair Hovnanian that it is a wrong decision; I have even spoken with the religious leader. I don’t wish to confront the Armenian architects at all but I know one thing for sure. The church needs protection as a historic monument.
– But how can we protect it?
– We can protect it with trees and light structures. If the church is a saint object it is necessary to leave a free space or build a park with benches. I have told Hrair Hovnanian that if he wishes to help the church he can invite a chorus from Geghard to come to Yerevan every Sunday for service. And finally if we wish to protect our Christianity there is no need to build new churches. Music itself is already the transmitter of sanity. And trees and grass are necessary for Yerevan as air. In my project I decided to cover the roof of the church from above with solar glasses that way it would be possible to maintain trees at wintertime. We can accumulate so much of energy that will be able to provide to the nearby buildings. I think that if they don’t wish to accept my project then they can construct some smaller objects and plant trees next to it so that people get accustomed to it.
– We have wasted a lot of time and means and have quite disfigured Yerevan. Will it be possible to save the face of Yerevan?
– Of course, even now it is possible to mediate urban development.
– In your opinion where should our attention be most focused on? And what projects are you going to implement here?
– I am not very interested in the construction and landscape of Yerevan. A lot of construction had been done and even now continues but landscape architecture doesn’t develop in the city. We have lost a part of the trees and the other part is being lost in my eyes. Tree planting must be systematic and should fit the context of the city. Yerevan develops in an anarchic way and people build whatever they want. They either do it with force or illegally. There is no system. Fortunately we still have the trees, which have philosophy of Soviet times. Soviet planted millions of trees everywhere. My first memory of Yerevan was the thick trees. And now I wish to implement my landscape program. I have already spoken with architect Narek Sargsyan.
– Will you be given absolute independence? Otherwise we will have a sad picture.
– There should be only one attitude in each work. If Tamanyan didn’t have his personal attitude he wouldn’t be able to create anything; democratic decisions would only impede him. Only the personal attitude has power and not just the opinion of various commissions. Mark Grigoryan was also someone with strong will, who had had many projects of parks. Although I am not a neoclassicist like Mark but I want to rely on his work. And I am sure that the only way of saving the city is to implement various landscape projects. Small trees cannot save Yerevan. For example the Northern Avenue doesn’t have a single tree. I have already chosen a selection of big trees, which will serve as a fan in summer and will create a beautiful gamma of colors in fall. Meanwhile we should think about winter as well because it should be eligible for walking in winter. The tiles become extremely frozen. And again we should remember about the solar energy when thinking to warm up the tiles. I understand that today people criticize a lot the external look of the avenue but we should understand that we can’t change this area any more. It has become a fact and we can only improve it.
– Usually all the constructions focus in downtown Yerevan. Why new buildings are not built in empty and isolated areas?
– I think we’ll come to that as well. We will understand that not always architecture starts from buildings. Usually it starts from planting the right tree in the right place. Especially now, in the conditions of crisis we should start from the trees. I will be working on my projects to plant new trees and parks. There is one territory on the way to Ashtarak, where on the highway there are only lampposts, unfinished construction and rocks. I should build a new thing in that area. My first step will be to cover the lampposts with trees – 4 rows, 150 pine trees. And the first part of the rocks will be covered with Armenian bushes. And then we will have to build fruit trees and only after that we will start to build buildings.
– It means the house will be built near the trees and not the other way around.
– Yes, and the houses should be rural. I have a very good advisor, who lives in Garni. She is a young woman, who had built her house herself and had done very correct and accurate calculations. We have the need of accumulating and using energy and water in Armenia. We need to sue the snow and rain. That is how they do in rural houses. And we will also design the way to permanently circulate the rain and snow. After building the house in the trees we should definitely think about the construction of agricultural markets. We see that they sell fruits and vegetables on the road. All that can be sold in smaller markets and be cleaner and more civilized. It will also become small business for the residents.
– Now in Armenia the farmers’ markets yield their place to supermarkets.
– I know but in the US there is a large net of “Farmers’ markets.” The same thing exists in Europe. And these markets on the Armenian land must work very well. And before constructing a building we should first of all take care of energy, plant a forest and build a market.