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The North Axis Project: How It Started and What Has Been Achieved So Far
- Ithaka Studio
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 10
The North Axis Project is one of the most ambitious urban regeneration initiatives developed in Yerevan in recent years. Located at the intersection of Komitas Avenue and the northern extension of the city's principal urban axis, the project works with a historically significant but underutilized area into a contemporary public destination that combines culture, recreation, commerce, and landscape architecture.
Developed as a comprehensive masterplan, the project consists of three interconnected components: the reconstruction of a 1.2-hectare public park with an underground parking facility, the creation of a multifunctional trade and gastronomic center, and the development of a children's cultural and entertainment center.
The origins of the project date back to 2019, when the project was made to revive one of the key urban nodes envisioned within the broader concept of the Northern Axis. Originally planned by Alexander Tamanyan's urban vision and further developed through later planning strategies, this area was intended to become an important connection point between Komitas Avenue, surrounding neighborhoods, and the city's larger public space network. The project sought not only to reconstruct an aging park and replace obsolete structures, but also to create a new urban destination capable of supporting contemporary social, cultural, and economic life while generating new employment opportunities across a variety of sectors.
At the beginning of the project, the park area was largely abandoned and neglected. More than thirty small kiosks occupied the sidewalk along Komitas avenue, limiting its potential as a public space. The former Arabkir Department Store, together with adjacent retail and semi-detached vacant buildings, had been constructed in 2002 but no longer met the needs of the growing district. The existing structure was a single-story building approximately five meters high along Komitas Avenue. Due to the natural slope of the terrain, the opposite side of the building was almost entirely embedded into the landscape, with a basement level located in the northern section.
Rather than demolishing the entire complex, the project proposed integrating the existing structures beneath a single architectural roof, creating a unified multifunctional center. The new development was designed to accommodate retail, gastronomy, exhibitions, leisure facilities, educational programs, youth activities, and entertainment spaces, all within an environment aligned with contemporary international standards.
At the heart of the development stands the Trade and Gastronomic Center, a multifunctional complex that replaces and reimagines the former Arabkir Department Store. The building was conceived as a bold architectural landmark inspired by contemporary parametric design principles. Its expressive form references the Armenian mythological "Vishap" – a symbol of strength, wisdom, and collective cultural memory – while simultaneously creating a recognizable urban icon at the northern gateway of the city. Beneath its large-span aluminum shell, the center accommodates retail, entertainment, exhibition, gastronomic, and recreational functions, bringing diverse public activities under one roof.
Due to the complexity of the dome's parametric geometry, the project brought together specialists from multiple countries and disciplines. Foreign structural and parametric engineers collaborated closely with the architectural team, local consultants, and contractors to develop and realize the large-span aluminum shell structure, while material research involved years of dialogue with leading international manufacturers.
Complementing this centerpiece is the Children's Cultural and Entertainment Center, designed as a softer, landscape-integrated architectural intervention. Embedded within the park itself, the building features exhibition spaces, educational and entertainment facilities, retail areas, cafés, and an open-air amphitheater. Its curved geometry and human-scale proportions establish a close relationship with the surrounding green environment while creating a vibrant destination dedicated to younger generations and families.
The park reconstruction forms the connective tissue of the entire development. Beyond creating new recreational spaces, pedestrian routes, playgrounds, event areas, and cultural facilities, the landscape design aims to strengthen the relationship between architecture, public life, and nature. The result is a continuous urban environment where buildings and landscape function as a single integrated system.
The journey from concept to realization has been long and complex. Since the project's inception in 2019, construction has progressed through multiple phases, each presenting unique technical and logistical challenges. Like many large-scale developments around the world, the project experienced periods of interruption caused by broader external circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected construction schedules, supply chains, and workforce availability. Economic fluctuations created additional challenges that occasionally slowed progress, while regional instability and the consequences of the war in Armenia introduced further uncertainty during critical phases of development.
Despite these difficulties, the project continued to advance. Through the commitment of the architects, consultants, engineers, contractors, and the entire design team, construction resumed whenever circumstances allowed, maintaining the long-term vision that originally inspired the development. Each challenge was met with renewed determination, ensuring that the original vision remained intact and continued to move forward.
Today, after years of design development, engineering coordination, and construction work, the North Axis Project is steadily approaching the final stages of realization. Major structural works have been completed, the dome has been constructed, and the project continues to progress toward completion.