Transportation Monitor Worldwide
 Friday


British architects call for preserving Armenia`s Zvartnots Airport


British architects are leading international calls for the
now-abandoned Zvartnots airport in Armenia to be saved from the
wrecking ball, the Daily Mail reported.

It looks like a monolithic space-city straight out of science fiction,
but in reality it was one of the jewels in the Soviet crown.

After it was built in the 1970s, more than 2,500 passengers crowded
through the country`s most modern airport terminal every hour.

Leading British architect Tim Flynn says the airport is an outstanding
piece of architecture. His London-based international practice has had
an office in Yerevan for 14 years.

And he hopes that the new, more democratic government in Armenia which
came to power after May`s Velvet Revolution will decide Zvartnots is a
historical building worth preserving. And yet he warns the longer it`s
left to crumble away, the chances of saving it diminish.

`I realise the new prime minister has a lot on his plate, but I hope
his conscience will lead to a change of plan. Whatever you think of
the old Soviet Union, the buildings from this period were
extraordinary and adventurous, a piece of history.`

The owners want to demolish more of the old airport to make way for a
multi-million pound expansion of the new international terminal. But
they are being fought by the daughter of the original airport
architect. Anahit Tarkhanyan believes the airport still has huge
potential and that many don`t realise what they`re giving up. She says
land-locked Armenia could benefit from a new renovated airport which
could become the centre of a network of regional airports. Now Anahit
is running for mayor of Yerevan, with a mission to fight the
demolition. 2018 Global Data Point.