Preservation of historical and cultural heritage as a means of effective dialogue between states. The three-day international conference brought together architects and other professionals from different parts of the world. Architect Andrey Ivanov has been studying the ancient cities of Armenia for many years. The focus of the research is Yerevan, Gyumri and Stepanakert. He has published two books summarizing cities. For two years, he studied the historical districts separately.
“For example, in the Kond district of Yerevan, each part can give a lot of information about the period. The data can prompt developers how to prepare a project to build a new one, preserving the history,” says architect from Russia Andrey Ivanov.
The first stage of the international tender for the implementation of construction works in Kond district has already been completed. The chairman of the Urban Development Committee informed that the second, final stage will start soon. According to Armen Ghularyan, the law on the small center of Yerevan is being worked out, which will regulate the construction works.
“The Urban Development Committee, in accordance with its functions, coordinates and oversees the restoration programs of the historical and cultural heritage of the historical cities of Armenia, responding to the internationally required documents to which Armenia has joined,” says Armen Ghularyan, Chairman of the Urban Development Committee.
Specialists will also speak about the historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) at the international conference. Manushak Titanyan has been documenting the historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh for many years with various scientific groups. He regrets that they did not have time to study in depth and publish the full picture. A separate series of studies is about Shushi.
“It is very important to preserve what is there, to study it, because experience has shown, unfortunately, what is left - and the whole historical period of Dizak has been occupied - the studies that were done were incomplete,” says architect Manushak Titanyan.
The Armenian National University of Architecture and Construction together with the National Academy of Sciences measured 12 historical and cultural monuments in Artsakh with three-dimensional scanning devices and transferred the materials to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. The Ministry provided the list of monuments. Specialists have worked in the areas both in our and beyond our control.
“The laboratory of the University is equipped with the latest equipment, in particular, three-dimensional scanners. It also scans historical and cultural heritage sites and provides a digital model of the monuments,” says Yeghiazar Vardanyan, Rector of the Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction.
It is planned to create a separate chair for the restoration and preservation of monuments at the university. It will operate under the auspices of UNESCO. And at the end of the conference, a declaration will be signed, according to which the members of the participating countries will henceforth speak out about all the atrocities that endanger the historical and cultural heritage.
