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 Panorama.am interview with honored architect of the Republic of Armenia Albert Zurabyan.

Panorama.am- Mister Zurabyan, Government’s decision to alienate the territory of “Moscow” cinema summer hall to Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and to build a church similar to St Poghos-Petros demolished within Soviet Era how could be assessed by you?

Զուրաբյան- It was completely not understandable for me.

Panorama.am- Wasn’t it surprising?
Զուրաբյան- No, it wasn’t, because urban development sometimes lacks perfect decision, they are neither under the interests of the city, nor the social values and nor those true standards by which urban development and architectural field are conditioned. Mainly someone’s private interests are observed.  

For decades we go that way. We are unable to fight; we are unable to put those values on the scale which are ours. “Ours” is defeated by “Mine”, because “Mine” are certain sums invested.

They are often justified that the state doesn’t have money and they make compromises for the investors. If a reasonable and a wise policy is made both in the city and the state, then those investments are also possible, and it’s possible to explain that architecture isn’t a bike. Those invested money should be wisely invested because in the aftermath of those processes we’re going to have either a sweet or a bitter harvest.   

Of course, it was unexpected, but at the same time it was expected.

Panorama.am- What is the solution? What can be made? To talk about it or to write about it?
Զուրաբյան- I hope on public and on experts’ voice, but I don’t have much expectations. I’ve bitter examples.

Panorama.am- Maybe the next is going to be more difficult?
Զուրաբյան- No, neither one will be difficult; personal interests are important.

In this case I don’t refer to the personal interests as we’re talking about the church, but finally the church serves to the culture, to the national values. Church is a tool we try to live in peace with our spiritual values. The mission of church is very important. But destroying one cultural institution for the sake of another is meaningless. It’s said it’s built in the place of St Poghos-Petros. It’s regretting, they haven’t done a good thing but the times were dictating it. It wasn’t the only church to be demolished.  

The city has developed and the city has its own carcass with its successful and not successful solution. Particularly this Summer Hall is one of the most successful solutions. Its architects are Spartak Knteghcyan and Telman Gevorgyan. I’ve worked with Spartak for 30 years; he has been my teacher and elder friend. He was a man of deep respect, a perfect architect and an extraordinary person. A gifted masterpiece which is modern even today. Good works don’t get older. In that complex place, in that trap in which the city occurred and which was the yard of “Moscow” cinema got its perfect image in the 60^th. Not only Yerevan or Armenia, but all the Soviet Union was talking about its architecture. It was innovation, it was a step forward which proved the world that we are able to think, think in a civilized and modern manner, that we are gifted, we have our own opinion and principles and we assume architecture as a high art. It was appreciated.

Unfortunately, one half of it has been demolished. There were missions, architectural solutions but they remained uncommitted. We hoped for years that the Summer Hall would be reconstructed. This hall, most possibly, isn’t as much attractive for the businessmen. They have difficulties to use it and have decided to get rid of it easily.

This is today’s reality.

Unfortunately, our social culture isn’t so high in order it’s properly assessed. If we were a little civilized (this is a cultural issue included in the list of monuments), I’m sure, we could meet the challenge and give rebirth to the hall.

I’m not sure what its end is as practically I don’t think we’ll succeed to keep this building. I don’t think the owners of that idea won’t either succeed. The city will be defeated. The buildings built today are awful, they look like hybrid buildings. In other words they are built “by heart.”   

They are building a new church. But our masterpieces of middle Ages are in awful conditions. I often visit Ohanavan and one of our masterpieces – the crane near Ohanavan is going to be demolished one day.  

I know that Tbilisi has been included in UNESCO list where extraordinary and unique atmosphere is protected. That is to say it is a city which has its type.

The type is the most important value. Type. It’s not a good or a bad one; it’s just called a type. Our speech is different, our music is different, it is ours and our being and future is conditioned by it.