from 1920 to 1991, armenia was part of the soviet union, resulting in a place where industrialization thrived and utilitarian soviet-style architecture ruled. today, its industrial cities and giant residential structures recount the country’s cultural identity while acting as the pride of armenian architecture. in an ode to this magnificent architectural heritage, armenian independent graphic designer and illustrator nvard yerkanian presents soviet modernist architecture in armenia, a series of minimal and subtly colorful illustrations.

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
(main) image – sevan writers’ resort – gevorg kochar and mikael mazmanyan, designed in 1965
(above) image – memorial for the 50th anniversary of soviet armenia in dilijan, tavush province, armenia
architects: a. tarkhanyan, s. avetisyan and k. vatinyan, built in 1970

 

 

created by nvard yerkanian, the soviet modernist architecture in armenia series is a continuous project where the designer aims to reveal the beauty and value of soviet-modernism. through the use of magic colors that accentuate the simple yet fantastic forms of these monuments, the designer highlights the strong lines that define them. in the series, yerkanian develops a set of images that create a graphic composition whose expression speaks beyond the architecture itself.

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
zvartnots airport in yerevan – architects: m. khachikyan, a. tarkhanyan, s. qalashyan, l. cherkezyan, designed in 1961

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
diving tower in etchmiadzin, armenia – architect: felix hakobyan designed in 1960s

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
central bus station in hrazdan – architect: henrik arakelyan, designed in 1976-78

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
youth palace in yerevan – architects: tarkhanyan, poghosyan, khachikyan, zakaryan, designed in 1966-70 and demolished in 2010

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
tigran petrosian chess house in yerevan – architects: zhanna meshcheryakova, gevorg aramyan, designed in 1970

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
youth metro station in yerevan – architect: stepan kyurkchyan, designed in 1981

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
cinema rossiya in yerevan – architects: spartak khachikyan, hrachik poghosyan, artur tarkhanyan, designed in 1975

nvard yerkanian illustrates famous soviet modernist architecture in armenia
cinema moscow open-air hall in yerevan – architects: spartak knteghtsyan, telman gevorkyan, designed in 1966

 

 

project info:

 

name: soviet modernist architecture in armenia

designer: nvard yerkanian