ANOTHER HISTORICAL BUILDING IS BEING DESTROYED
By Ruzan Poghosian

AZG Armenian Daily
07/12/2006

Owner Promises to Only Reconstruct Old Building

Several days ago, Hrayr Hovnanian, philanthropist from Diaspora, the
owner of the former building of the government of first Republic
of Armenia, began the deconstruction and reconstruction works
of the building that is included in the list of the historical
monuments. Being deeply concerned about this fact, Academician,
architect Varazdat Harutyunian and his colleagues A. Grigorian,
A. Toromanian, L. Doloukhanian, D. Kertmenjian and M. Gasparian
addressed a letter to RA Prime Minister Andranik Magarian.

In their letter, the architects stated that 11 historical monuments
from 102 belonging to the 19th century and situated in the center of
Yerevan had been destroyed in 2 years. The list of the abovementioned
historical monuments was published on November 24, 2004. Besides,
many other buildings were destroyed with the promise to reconstruct
them. The architects state that this approach of preserving the
historical monuments is absolutely unacceptable.

"According to the plan approved quite recently, the monument will
totally lose its historical value. Being the Governors Office in
1905, the building of Armenia’s Ministerial Council in 1918-1920,
the office of the Revolutionary Committee, the first state building
of the Soviet power in Armenia, the building is being associated with
such political figures as Hovhannes Kajaznouni, Aleksander Khatisian,
Aram Manukian, Aleksander Myasnikian and other prominent state figures
of Armenia. We expect that you will immediately interfere to avert
the destruction of a building of such state historical importance,"
the architects emphasized in their letter to RA PM Andranik Margarian.

The architects expressed confidence that a new building may be
constructed in the given area only by preserving the original sizes
and appearance of the building. Karo Ayvazian, head of Yerevan’s
Territorial Department at RA State Agency for Preservation of
Historical Monuments, stated that nothing was changed in the frontal
part of the building. He added that being built of old constructional
materials the building isn’t safe from the seismic viewpoint.

Ayvazian said that in order to strengthen the building, the builders
are to reconstruct the walls of the building with new materials,
preserving the original plan. But hey need to totally destroy the
building for that. He assured that the facade of the building will
be preserved.

It’s worth mentioning that there are cases of deconstructing some
historical buildings in the Republic Street. Some believe that the
best example of the newly reconstructed ones is the building of the
Republican Party of Armenia. In response to our hint about losing
the historical atmosphere, Ayvazian said that if the building is
reconstructed in the same place they may avert such danger.