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Armenia is one of the world's oldest civilizations, and according to legend, was the paradise where Noah's ark landed after the flood. Throughout its approximately 3,000 year history, Armenia has been invaded by many groups seeking to control the major geographical crossroads where it sits: the Romans, Persians, Mongols, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and Russians all controlled the area at one time or another. Consequently, Armenians have continually struggled to retain their own culture, which includes trying to maintain their architectural identity.
The 20th century was a relatively prosperous period until 1988, when a series of events drastically altered the quality of life for most Armenians: a devastating earthquake in 1988; the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989; and Armenia's declaration of independence in 1991, followed by a war with Azerbaijan from 1991-1994.
Since 1994, Armenia has slowly rallied but has still not fully recovered from the earthquake. Reconstruction of the historic center of Gyumri, which contains over 1,000 intact historic structures and will be the site of AiP's workshop, has until recently been quite slow, but is progressing and now seeing as much demolition as repair or restoration.
In 2008, the Kumayri District, Alexandrapol, was put on the World Monuments Fund Watch list in order to focus attention on the endangered site.
AiP is partnering with the non-profit Historic Armenian Houses and architect Jane Britt Greenwood, Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at Mississippi State University, to demonstrate that in rebuilding the city center, preservation and re-use of historic buildings is a viable alternative to demolition, which results in the loss of both the built heritage and valuable building materials.
On this project, you will be helping repair and preserve one of the historic neo-classical style residences that typifies the Alexandrapol years (1840-1920).
The Teryan Street building suffered serious damage during the 1988 earthquake; one section is in danger of collapsing if repair work is not begun soon. One elderly resident continued to live in the house after the earthquake, despite the fact that only three of the twelve rooms are habitable. She recently passed away, and her family would like to honor her wishes to have the house restored for use as a museum with a section of the house remaining as a residential apartment. Her wish is very timely, as the building housing the Kumayri Preserve Museum was recently claimed for another use, and artifacts are currently being stored in a private home.
The Teryan Street residence holds great importance for the Kumayri Historic District, having been identified as significant at both the local and national level. The process involved in restoring this masonry residence will serve as a valuable teaching lab, demonstrating to neighborhood residents the methods that can be used to repair and restore their own homes. This workshop will be the first step in developing a field school for Armenian and U.S. students, who will study hands-on preservation skills, along with city planning and sustainable development issues.
The project has attracted the interest of the World Monuments Fund, and they will be providing generous financial support beginning in 2011. This process of taking the restoration and repair of one building and translating it into a program to save the architectural heritage of the entire neighborhood has never before been done in Armenia. Participants attending in June 2010 will develop a work plan for the Teryan Street residence, identifying and photographing existing conditions and problems along with creating design parameters that outline the use of each space. This work will pave the way for building restoration and the initiation of the teaching lab.
Participants during the summer of 2010 will work under the guidance of architect and professor, Jane Britt Greenwood, to complete the condition assessment and design parameters for the house. Instruction will be in English and Armenian.
Stabilization of the endangered section will be completed in the spring of 2011, and building restoration will begin during the summer of 2011. Participants in 2011 will work under the guidance of Dave Woodham and other specialists from Atkinson-Noland, a U.S. structural engineering firm specializing in masonry stabilization.
Along with project work, participants will have the opportunity to see a variety of the area’s cultural and historical sites. The group will take walking tours of downtown Yerevan and of the Kumayri Historic District. Evenings will allow time for local sightseeing to locations such as the Black Fort, and for events such as the Puppet Theater play and backstage tour. One day will be set aside for a tour of the countryside, visiting Getap, Goshavank, Dilijan, Lake Sevan and more.
The 13-day workshop will have participants arriving on Saturday and leaving on a Thursday. The cost for international participants is US$2350 and covers lodging; breakfast and lunch; round-trip transportation between the airport, Yerevan, and Gyumri; fieldtrips; insurance and workshop materials. Local residents wishing to attend are welcome to participate at lower rates. Contact us for more details.
Most flights coming from Europe to Armenia will arrive at the Zvartnots Airport and transportation will be arranged for participants from the airport to State University Guest House in downtown Yerevan for a one-night stay. Participants will travel by minivan the following day for the two-hour drive to Gyumri. Transportation will also be provided for the return trip to the airport on the scheduled departure date. While in Gyumri, participants will stay at the Hotel Berlin. Fees are based on double occupancy.
Travel to Armenia requires both a passport and a visa. If you are coming from the U.S., a three-week tourist week tourist visa will cost about US$60 and can be obtained from either the Consular Section of the Embassy of Armenia to the United States in Washington, D.C., or the Consulate General of Armenia in California. U.S. citizens can find additional information from the Armenian Embassy. If you are traveling from another country and need assistance, please let us know. An exit fee of approximately US$30 (exact amount changes frequently) is also required and is paid at the Zvartnots Airport upon departure.
If you would like assistance with travel arrangements, contact Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, AiP's partnering travel agency.
Armenians are typically very well dressed and do not wear apparel that is very short or revealing. Please be considerate of these preferences and dress somewhat conservatively. Summers in Gyumri are dry and sunny, with June temperatures ranging between 22° and 30°C (71-86°F). For the work site, bring a hat, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, gloves and hard soled shoes with closed toes that will be protective while working. Layering long sleeves over short is helpful in order to be prepared for any weather at the work site. Remember that safety is always an important consideration at the work site. Additional information on food, lodging, medical treatment and so on will be provided upon registration.
It is very difficult if not impossible to eat a vegetarian diet in Armenia. If you are strictly vegetarian, you might wish to consider another of AiP's great hands-on trips.
Saturday
Arrive at Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan. Pick-up and transportation to lodging, State University Guest House.
Sunday
Travel by minivan to Gyumri. Check into Hotel Berlin.
Site orientation.
Monday through Friday
Work 9-5, with lunch provided near the work site.
Half-day walking tour of Kumayri Historic District.
Saturday-Sunday
Fieldtrips and free time.
Monday-Wednesday
Work 9-5, with lunch provided near the work site.
Thursday
Transportation to Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan for departure.
If you have additional questions or would like to discuss this project with AiP staff, please contact us at workshops@adventuresinpreservation.org or call +1 303-444-0128.
Joining AiP's workshop in Gyumri is a great way to help preserve the endangered Kumayri District. If you find this project intriguing, but are unable to attend, you can still make an impact by supporting restoration work at the carriage house with a tax-deductible donation to AiP. Your donation will go directly to workshop planning, scholarships and materials.
Register Now Online
If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form.
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