THE NORTH AXIS: PARK RECONSTRUCTION AND MFC CENTER

Project Typology

Public

Location

Yerevan, Armenia

Date

2019

Status

Under construction

Area

140,000 m² (park) + 4,975 m² (complex)

Credits

ITHAKA – Design & Architecture Inc.

A multifunctional center with a total area of 4,975 sq.m is proposed for the site of the existing “Arabkir” store, located at 49/9 Komitas Avenue in Yerevan’s Arabkir district. The project envisions the construction of a contemporary mixed-use complex that integrates retail, entertainment, business, recreational, and gastronomic functions within a unified architectural volume.

The projected building is located in the Arabkir community of Yerevan. Initially, Arabkir was a separate settlement, for which Alexander Tamanyan developed a master plan in 1929. Arabkir is represented as a separate urban planning unit consisting of separate mansions, located in the central part of the modern district with its center surrounded by trees of the circular park.

This settlement was connected with Yerevan by three streets. Subsequently, urban planning documents were developed within the general plan of Yerevan and were associated with other areas of the city plan.

Architectural Solutions

Project Context

Within the framework of this project, we are dealing with a segment of the peak of the Northern axis, which is one of the most important starting points of the city. We are talking about tying the upper part with Komitas Avenue and the boulevard, as well as the territory in front of four research high-rise buildings.

The Northern Axis Concept

The idea of the Northern axis is a turning point in terms of urban development of the city of Yerevan and the events taking place in the modern architecture of the capital of Armenia. It is based on two main topics:

• Creating Urban Spine: Creation of a strong dominant axis with bright architecture, opening the South and serving as one of the main landmarks for Yerevan, which will take on the role of the "spine" in the urban planning grid of the city.

• Urban Connectivity: Emphasizing the intersection of the axis in the urban planning network with unique architectural dominants and creating a nodal connection point for the urban environment (Buildings of the National Opera and Ballet Theater, Tamanyan Square, the Cascade Complex, Northern Avenue and Republic Square, St. Grigor Lusavorich Yerevan Cathedral, Russia Cinema, the Yerevan railway station with the monument to David Sasuntsi, etc.).

Design Mission

The authors were faced with creating architecture that harmoniously enters into harmony with the urban planning idea of the Northern Axis, while satisfying both functional and aesthetic needs of citizens.

The structure's image should fulfill two missions:

Satisfy all requirements of modern multifunctional centers, their business and social functions;

Contribute to the resuscitation of the neighboring Arabkir boulevard and emphasize this node of the Northern Axis.

Architectural Approach

Volumetric, spatial, structural and technological solutions are made in the spirit of parametric architecture and automated building technologies characteristic of 21st century architecture.

The use of such technologies allows freedom to work with surfaces of double curvature, apply forms with complex geometry and elements, work with digital parameters and cover the entire area with a common shell with large spans, easily solving planning problems under a single dome.

This approach creates an innovative, vibrant, strong and impressive image that harmoniously fits into the existing environment while emphasizing social significance and contributing to area recognition.

The Vishap Concept

The design creates a modern and expressive environment in the stylized form of a traditional Armenian dragon (vishap). The building rises above the hill, at the end of the Northern Axis becoming a symbol of the Arabkir community and Yerevan as a whole.

In Armenian mythology, the "vishap" represents the collective unconscious memory of the Armenian people, symbolizing wisdom and strength. Vishaps were originally deities or water spirits depicted as fish, and have been a totem of the Armenian people since ancient times.

Functional Layout

The layout is open with second-height spaces providing daylight for basement and semi-basement floors. The complex features:

• One main entrance at level 4,650 from Komitas Avenue

• Two additional entrances from the park top at 0,000

• One pedestrian working entrance with car parking

• One entrance from the north (research high-rises)

• Two emergency exits on right and left sides

All premises and service areas of the multifunctional center are concentrated under one roof, providing convenient environments for pastimes, food outlets, exhibitions, retail, and leisure areas for children and adolescents.

Structural Solutions

The existing structure consists of a monolithic reinforced-concrete frame with maximum span of 9,800mm and minimum of 5,800mm.

The proposed design solutions are classified as hybrid, combined systems - a reinforced concrete frame active on the surface, which serves as an active long-span carrier system in both shape and vector.

The parametric wide-span coating will be implemented as a mesh system active on vector and surface, based on metal spatial mesh shell using lightweight aluminum composite profiles. The dome will be implemented using construction technologies known in modern parametric architecture, with foreign colleagues invited for implementation.

Project Team

Chief Project Architect:

Dr. Prof. Telemak Alberti Ananyan

Authors:

Dr. Prof. Telemak Alberti Ananyan

M. Arch. Hayk Babken Martirosyan

Architects:

M. Arch. Hayk Martirosyan

B. Arch. Isabella Harutyunyan

Architectural Assistants and Interns:

M. Arch. Armen Hyusisyan

B. Arch. Monica Babajanyan