Here are some of the most impressive examples of Armenian Soviet Brutalist architecture.
The Iron Fountain in Gyumri
Completed in 1982, the Iron Fountain was the centerpiece of the Polytechnic University of Gyumri campus before the 6.8 magnitude earthquake destroyed its surroundings. While 80% of the city turned into ruins, the fountain continues to stand as a unique example of Armenian Soviet Brutalist architecture. However, the fountain is currently abandoned, and no restoration work seems to be conducted soon.
Northern Ray, Yerevan
The Cascade Complex in Yerevan
While conceiving the Cascade, the original plan of the architect Alexander Tamanyan (1878–1936) was to connect the northern and southern parts of the city with a long green area of waterfalls and gardens. Unfortunately, this idea remained forgotten until the 1970s when Yerevan’s Chief Architect, Jim Torosyan decided to implement the plan with new ideas. Opened in the 1980s, the Cascade included a monumental stairway, a long indoor shaft with a series of escalators, and an intricate network of halls as well as outdoor gardens with numerous sculptures referencing Armenia’s rich cultural heritage.
The Rossiya Cinema in Yerevan
Constructed between 1968 and 1975, the Rossiya Cinema’s structure was designed as a reference to the lower and higher peaks of the Armenian symbol of Mt. Ararat. Later, the cinema was abandoned following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and it serves as a shopping center today.
