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Architect Garegin Egoyan told the "News-Armenia" agency why Yerevan has become "hard to breathe" due to a lack of long‑term vision and chaotic construction 

YEREVAN, September 17. News-Armenia. Yerevan is a book in which every building and every street becomes a page of history. But over the past decades many of these pages have been irrevocably torn out: historic buildings were demolished, and their places were taken by uniform high‑rise blocks. Architect Garegin Egoyan told the "News-Armenia" agency why Yerevan has become "hard to breathe" due to a lack of long‑term vision and chaotic construction. Yet he offered hope: a new generation of architects is developing a different approach, where the primary value is the person, nature, and a harmonious environment. 

"News-Armenia" — In one of your interviews you said that it is difficult for an architect to succeed in Armenia. What hinders this and how can the situation be changed?

G. Egoyan — An economic platform is needed for the development of architecture. Currently there is no social commissioning—Armenia lacks an established client institute, and developments repeat each other. When someone builds a residential complex, everyone starts doing the same, seeing it as profitable. But by commissioning a unique project, businesses gain higher profits. There is already an understanding that when an architect works on a project, it yields additional dividends. A building with good architecture attracts attention and creates demand. The center of everything is the person, not concrete or decor.

“News-Armenia” — Yerevan is experiencing a construction boom, but multi‑storey giants are growing chaotically. Is the city losing its distinct character?

G. Egoyan — A city is an organism that must develop. But we have somewhat neglected Yerevan. As a poor country, we attracted investment by any means possible. In the 1990s, in order to attract money, cafes were allowed to be built on lawns. Construction was carried out intuitively, without taking traffic flows into account. Now is the time for large investments, but there are still not enough of them. Therefore, some buildings are being constructed thoughtlessly. Gradually, people are moving away from the center, preferring the suburbs, and for now we have poor-quality construction and houses that are uncomfortable to live in.

Novosti-Armenia: You warned about the disappearance of Yerevan's “architectural layers.” What does that mean?

G. Egoian — A city should be read like a book. The thicker it is, the more interesting it is. When we tear out pages, stories are interrupted. If you walk down the street and see buildings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and then they are demolished, it means that these pages are being torn out. Old buildings need to be restored and adapted. The more historical layers there are, the richer the city is. New cities are not as rich — they only have one page.

Novosti-Armenia — So it turns out that we have already destroyed almost everything in Yerevan...

G. Egoyan — In Yerevan, yes. Almost everything.

Novosti-Armenia — Rate the “architectural mood” of Yerevan on a scale of 1 to 10.

G. Egoyan — Probably 5-6 points.

Novosti-Armenia: What could change the city's appearance?

G. Egoian: It's not just about buildings, but the entire urban ecosystem. Yerevan should be clean, with a good transport system. The climate has changed because the slopes around the city, which were supposed to “air condition” the center, designed as an amphitheater, have been built up. Instead of moisture and clean air, dust comes from there. The wind rose and ecology have been disrupted.

Novosti-Armenia: Are there any young talented architects in Armenia?

G. Egoian: Of course there are, some of them were my students. Architectural workshops have already appeared in Armenia, whose members firmly defend their point of view. These are progressive young people who dream of good architecture. They communicate, attend lectures, and invite foreign colleagues. This did not happen before. It gives hope that with proper funding, architecture worthy of modern people will emerge.

Novosti-Armenia: How can historical value be reconciled with modern requirements?

G. Egoian — My principle is that we should not restore everything exactly as it was. When restoring the Amenaprkich Church in Gyumri, we inserted simple stone fragments next to the preserved ornaments to show people what had been restored. There are cities — London, Krakow, Prague, Rome — where modern architecture fits in very elegantly. They enrich each other rather than compete.

Novosti-Armenia: What trends will shape the appearance of Armenian cities?

G. Egoian: All over the world, old buildings are now being restored and adapted to new requirements. It will be the same in Yerevan and Gyumri. There are empty buildings that need to be redesigned, their facades reinforced, and their layout improved.

Novosti-Armenia: Tell us about the Goght Urban Valley cottage community project. How did you get involved in the project?

G. Egoian: We talked with the initiators of this project. I presented my work and my architectural studio, and shared my vision. The village in Goght should be innovative, so that people live there not as they would in a village or city, but in a completely different way. Nature should play a major role in people's lives there, and the houses should be modern, spacious, bright, and built from affordable local materials.

Novosti-Armenia: What innovative elements are you proposing for Goght Urban Valley?

G. Yegoyan: We are utilizing original professional solutions, such as green roofs, which provide good insulation from both heat and cold. Our work involves a lot of metal and concrete, which has a special plasticity.

We try our best not to interfere with the landscape, preserving trees and terrain and using local stone. Although the village will have all the necessary infrastructure for modern family life, it will remain peaceful and quiet. The village is located in an apricot orchard. In spring, it will amaze with the beauty and delicate aroma of blooming apricots, in summer it will provide coolness, in autumn it will enchant with a carpet of golden and crimson tones, and in winter it will enchant with a snowy fantasy. I would like the residents of Goght Urban Valley to be in constant contact with nature and observe all its transformations. Our main criterion is not to harm nature, but to adapt to it.