MATENADARAN

Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Architect: M. Grigoryan
construction: 1944-1959


The issue of national characteristics in new architecture was raised in pre-war years. The search activity was in terrupted by the war and in the following years it was no longer done in a single work scale but in the building of the whole ensembles. Matenadaran, a unique depot of ancient manuscripts, closed the Lenin Avenue perspective and was designed as a concluding chord of a huge architectural composition the beginning of which was defined by a ceremonial building arcade one the Lenin Square. Thie building is ssettled on a mountain slope dominating over other parts of Avenue. The grand access stair is concealed from sight on the roadside. From afar the building is seen as hunge sculptural memorial resting on a powerful pedestal. The slope of green plaeau serves as a background for the gray-blue basalt "monument"

The main volume is resolved in a strict and lapidary cube form. The front facade is dismembered into five strongly drawn out vertical planes. In the center there is a deep persêctive portal with a semicircular completion. The entrance portal is flanked by two deep niches on each side, also inserted as parts of the rectangular facade. The use of decor is brought to a minimum, and the main role is given to a classical approach with a variation play of various proportions of similar forms. The monumental sculptures of Armenian men of culture are placed on the entrance sides in contrast to the delicate cuttings of the wall surface....

A rhythmical play of volumes and planes continues in the interior but the main theme here is a international form-archaism. This artistic method was used by the architect as a means of organic approach to the Armenian national tradition, which is characterised by rationality, organicity and restraint.