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YEREVAN GOT RID OF CHIEF ARCHITECT WITH MEGALOMANIA
Interview with Sarhat Petrosyan, architect
Sarhat, yesterday it became known that Tigran Barseghyan accepted the
offer to take on the position of chief architect of Yerevan. Do you
think it is related to public pressure, TI's statement or was Narek
Sargsyan found to be the best candidate for head of the Architectural
Committee?
It is hard to make evaluations before official information comes.
However, if it is true, it deserves only a positive evaluation. In
fact, with the appointment of Tigran Barseghyan as chief architect
Yerevan gets rid of the chief architect with megalomania. This
appointment is also important because over the past 15 years Yerevan
has not had a chief architect with experience in design. It will
help treat the lack of confidence in this institution. I am saying
this though I think it is time to eliminate this position altogether
because it is anachronism.
As to the new position created for Narek Sargsyan, like the institution
of the chief architect, it fully fits his regressive and authoritarian
style, and I can imagine what efforts have been made to achieve such an
illogical decision that to some extent is not in line with the spirit
and concept of the Constitution and legislation of Armenia. And if the
same controversial personality is appointed head of an institution
which theoretically has a higher status and a national level, it
means that public pressure and the ongoing investigation helped his
professional growth...
Should we expect essential changes in Yerevan? You have stated that
the junta of architects is awarded most contracts.
As I said it is early to consider the new appointment and make
evaluations. However, this decision will appease tension relating
to the City Hall and resume the dialogue betweenYerevan people and
professionals. I hope the notorious junta of architects will not be
able to affect the new urban policy and it will be more transparent
and understandable and, most importantly, professionalism will be in
the first place.
What concerns and expectations do you have from the Committee?
I think either the people who promoted the idea of the committee
did not read my proposal till the end or did not understand it
because it contained some key recommendations that are mandatory
for implementation of this idea. As I said, the entire conversation
is about urban planning, not architecture, because the ongoing
professional processes and the Armenian legislation are not related to
architectural activities. Such a reform that repeats the soviet time
State Building and involves the person to blame for the outrageous
urban planning of the past 15 years and his team will be another waste
of taxpayer money, and what is more important, the sector will be
further concentrated in the hands of the junta. Let's not rush though
and wait to see what functions the committee will perform. Personally,
I have no hopes that our problems will be solved if not get worse...
Siranuysh Papyan 16:52 07/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/30649
Interview with Sarhat Petrosyan, architect
Sarhat, yesterday it became known that Tigran Barseghyan accepted the
offer to take on the position of chief architect of Yerevan. Do you
think it is related to public pressure, TI's statement or was Narek
Sargsyan found to be the best candidate for head of the Architectural
Committee?
It is hard to make evaluations before official information comes.
However, if it is true, it deserves only a positive evaluation. In
fact, with the appointment of Tigran Barseghyan as chief architect
Yerevan gets rid of the chief architect with megalomania. This
appointment is also important because over the past 15 years Yerevan
has not had a chief architect with experience in design. It will
help treat the lack of confidence in this institution. I am saying
this though I think it is time to eliminate this position altogether
because it is anachronism.
As to the new position created for Narek Sargsyan, like the institution
of the chief architect, it fully fits his regressive and authoritarian
style, and I can imagine what efforts have been made to achieve such an
illogical decision that to some extent is not in line with the spirit
and concept of the Constitution and legislation of Armenia. And if the
same controversial personality is appointed head of an institution
which theoretically has a higher status and a national level, it
means that public pressure and the ongoing investigation helped his
professional growth...
Should we expect essential changes in Yerevan? You have stated that
the junta of architects is awarded most contracts.
As I said it is early to consider the new appointment and make
evaluations. However, this decision will appease tension relating
to the City Hall and resume the dialogue betweenYerevan people and
professionals. I hope the notorious junta of architects will not be
able to affect the new urban policy and it will be more transparent
and understandable and, most importantly, professionalism will be in
the first place.
What concerns and expectations do you have from the Committee?
I think either the people who promoted the idea of the committee
did not read my proposal till the end or did not understand it
because it contained some key recommendations that are mandatory
for implementation of this idea. As I said, the entire conversation
is about urban planning, not architecture, because the ongoing
professional processes and the Armenian legislation are not related to
architectural activities. Such a reform that repeats the soviet time
State Building and involves the person to blame for the outrageous
urban planning of the past 15 years and his team will be another waste
of taxpayer money, and what is more important, the sector will be
further concentrated in the hands of the junta. Let's not rush though
and wait to see what functions the committee will perform. Personally,
I have no hopes that our problems will be solved if not get worse...
Siranuysh Papyan 16:52 07/08/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/30649