Yerevan Municipality allows demolition of old building of Zvartnots Airport
In December 2015, Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan granted permission to the Armenia International Airports CJSC for the partial demolition of the old (round) building of Zvartnots Airport. Architect Anahit Tarkhanyan, a member of the Union of Architects of Armenia, has issued a statement condemning the Municipality’s decision. “Zvartnots Airport which was built in 1974 is known by Armenian people as a symbol of Armenia and was once considered a sample of modernist architecture in the USSR. The 19th Vienna Architecture Congress held in December 2012 adopted a resolution urging the Armenian Government to maintain without modifications, restore and include in the list of historic monuments samples of modernist architecture in the USSR, including the old passenger terminal of Zvartnots Airport. In response to the Resolution, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Alexan Karapetyan adressed a letter to Dietmar Steiner, Director of the ArchitekturzentrumWien (Centre for Architecture of Vienna) assuring him that the round building of the Airport is under the care and attention of the country’s leadership. On November 11, 2013, the Armenian Public Council turned down the proposal of the operator of the Zvartnots airport, Armenia International Airports CJSC, to demolish the round building of the Airport and requested the Government to maintain the old passenger terminal. On October 15, 2015, the 3rd Pan-Armenian Forum of Architects, with the assistance of the Ministry of Diaspora and Ministry of Urban Development, turned to the country’s authorities asking them to recognize the value of building and maintain it for the future generations. Given the united position of the Armenian society and international organizations on the future of the round building of the Airport, the permission granted by any official to demolish the building stems from corrupt interests. The person who is ready to take bribes and destroy his national values is an enemy of our nation. In order to protect the rights of Zvartnots Airport, I am going to appeal to law enforcement agencies of Armenia and Argentina, as well as international organizations combating corruption,” Anahit Tarkhanyan said in the statement. The building of the Zvartnots international airport became a recognizable landmark in Armenia shortly after it was put into operation in 1980. Under the agreement signed between the Armenian Government and Argentine-Armenian businessman Eduardo Eurnekian’s Corporacion America in 2001, the management of Zvartnots Airport was for 30 years was conceded to Armenian International Airports. In 2011, a new airport corresponding to all international standards was opened near the old building. It was soon proposed that the old building be demolish to clear the way for the new airport’s expansion.
