Artur Tarkhanyan Center condemns government initiative to revoke protected status of old Zvartnots Airport building

ArmInfo. The Artur Tarkhanyan Center museum has condemned the Armenian government's initiative to remove the old Zvartnots Airport building from Yerevan's State List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Monuments  and terminate its legal status as a protected site.  According to the museum's press service, the structure is a globally recognized masterpiece of modern Armenian architecture. "Numerous publications have highlighted this unique structure, emphasizing its exceptional architectural value and significance," the museum stated. "Only seven similar airports remain worldwide, and all are protected by the state as vital architectural and cultural heritage sites, even when no longer in active use." The museum asserts that the historic terminal could be modernized to meet international standards.

"We are convinced that with a modest investment and a short timeframe, it would be possible to expand the airport's capacity by up to three times and add 10 new gates," the statement reads. The museum urged the Armenian government to revise the airport's master plan and uphold legal requirements to preserve the building as a valuable example  of Armenia's architectural heritage," the museum concluded.

Recall, back in 2013, Armenian International Airports CJSC issued a statement declaring the old Zvartnots building dangerous to the public and inconsistent with modern air navigation standards. The plan to demolish the circular building drew harsh criticism from architects, who noted the building's historical value. In 2015, the concessionaire presented a new project that included partial preservation of the old Zvartnots building. A permit for the demolition of the ring road at the old Zvartnots Airport complex was issued by Yerevan Municipality to Armenian International Airports CJSC on December 24, 2015.  However, following a wave of protests, authorities announced that no final decision on the demolition had been made.

Meanwhile, the architectural community maintains its firm stance that the entire structure must be preserved. Experts have repeatedly emphasized that the building—alongside other strategic Armenian infrastructure, such as the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, key hydroelectric facilities, and the Arpa-Sevan tunnel—was engineered to withstand a magnitude 9 earthquake.