Week 8: The evolution of Armenian domestic stone dwellings

Similar to religious buildings, the domestic constructions in Armenia also use the vastly available resources of stone and tuff stone in particular. There are various stylistic eras and more distinctly, we will look into the ancient and pre-communist residential constructions, the housing system during SSRA (soviet socialistic republic of Armenia) and the newly independent RA (Republic of Armenia) from 1991 onward.
Armenian architecture in general, as it originates in an earthquake-prone region, tends to be built with this hazard in mind. Armenian buildings tend to be rather low-slung and thick-walled in design. Because of the abundant resources of stone, and relatively few forests, stone was nearly always used throughout for small and large buildings.
Smaller and most residential buildings of earlier centuries were normally constructed of lighter materials, yet hardly any early examples survived. We will be looking at the example of the abandoned medieval capital of Ani 5th century AD.

Capital Ani, residential ruins

The stone used in buildings is typically quarried all at the same location, in order to give the structure a uniform colour. In cases where different colour stone are used, they are often intentionally contrasted in a striped or checkerboard pattern. Powder made out of ground stone of the same type was often applied along the joints of the tuff slabs to give buildings a seamless look. Unlike the Romans or Syrians who were building at the same time, Armenians never used wood or brick when building large structures.
In Ani, there are also number of man-made caves in all the canyons and valleys that surround the city. On the western side of Ani is the Tsaghkotsadzor canyon, also known as the Bostanlar Deresi and the Aladja (Alaca çay). On the north-western side of Ani is a branch valley of the Tsaghkotsadzor, the Igadzor valley. The Tsaghkotsadzor has other branch valleys that also have caves: the largest one on its western side is called the Bagnayridzor, and on its eastern side, north of the Igadzor, is the Anidzor, located below the village of Ani (Ocakli). On the eastern side of Ani is the deep canyon of the river Akhurian (Arpaçay), and on the north-eastern side of Ani is a branch valley, the Gayledzor (also known as the Mirmir or Tatarcık Deresi).



Rock cut chambers of Ani

The branch valleys are mostly dry on the surface except in times of heavy rain, but a small stream, known as the Ani River, meanders through the Tsaghkotsadzor canyon. The great majority of the caves are found in the Tsaghkotsadzor canyon. Kipshize divided the locations of the caves into 30 sections; 22 of them lay in the Tsaghkotsadzor and its tributaries.

 

Rock cut complex facade and plan

Many (probably the majority) of the caves were dwellings complete with associated storage areas. These chamber complexes are the least regular in their designs and layouts, and often have very free-flowing, curving interiors and multiple levels.

 

The inside of the chamber and the storage units

Most of the chambers were lit using windows. Some very large niches may have been sleeping areas. Smaller chambers, sometimes with storage pits dug in their floors, are often found grouped around a large central chamber. Occasionally, the smaller chambers have narrow tunnels that extend deep into the rock. In most cases these tunnels don't seem to lead anywhere and stop abruptly. Such tunnels may have been places of refuge (though it is notable that defensive millstone doorways, like those found in Cappadocia, do not appear to exist at Ani). A number of the chambers that are close to the surface have pyramidal ceilings with a skylight at the apex [see photograph 35], perhaps mirroring the wooden architecture found in traditional hazarashen-type houses. There are several such chambers in the Gayledzor valley.
There were also chambers intended for water storage, cellars for storage of wine and oil jars, stables, and a large chamber that has been identified as a caravanserai. A number of caves, especially those located close to Ani village, are still used for storage or for housing farm animals.

Mother Armenia Monument

Armenian architecture employs a form of concrete to produce sturdy buildings,. It is a mixture of lime mortar, broken tuff, and rocks around which forms a core against which thin slabs of tuff are arranged in brickwork fashion. As the wet mortar mixture dries it forms a strong concrete-like mass sealed together with the tuff around it and, due to tuff's properties, it becomes harder with time. Initially, almost no core was used in the construction of churches, stone blocks were simply sealed together, but as architects saw how those with mortar cores withstood tremors, the size of the core expanded. Frescos of marble or another stone were often affixed to the side of these buildings, usually at a later date. The most characteristic element of an Armenian structure is that most often it is composed almost entirely of stone, usually volcanic tuff or basalt.
This tradition was adopted and expanded during USSR regime as well affecting residential dwellings, governmental buildings, museums, institutions etc. Although religious practices in Soviet Armenia were largely oppressed for over 50 years, it is however undeniable that the communist era brought a massive uplift in industrial development of the country.


The hammer and sickle on Soviet Armenian emblem

From March 12, 1922 to December 5, 1936, Armenia was a part of the Transcaucasian SFSR (TSFSR) together with the Georgian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR. Armenians enjoyed a period of relative stability under Soviet rule. Life under the Soviet Union  was a soothing balm in contrast to the turbulent final years of the Ottoman Empire. The Armenians received medicine, food, as well as other provisions from the central government and extensive literacy reforms were carried out.

Yerevan became the capital of the newly formed Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union. Yerevan was the first city in the Soviet Union for which a general plan was developed. The "General Plan of Yerevan", approved in 1924, was developed by the academician Alexander Tamanyan. The plan was designed for a population of 150,000.

During the Soviet era the city was transformed into a modern industrial metropolis of over a million people, to become a significant scientific and cultural centre.
 

The plan of Yerevan

Tamanyan incorporated national traditions with contemporary urban construction. His design presented a radial-circular arrangement that overlaid the existing city and incorporated much of its existing street plan. As a result, many historic buildings were demolished, including churches, mosques, the Persian fortress, baths, bazaars and caravanserais. Many of the districts around central Yerevan were named after former Armenian communities that were destroyed by the Ottoman Turks during the Armenian Genocide. The districts of Arabkir, Malatia-Sebastia and Nork Marash, for example, were named after the towns Arabkir, Malatya, Sebastia, and Marash, respectively. After the end of World War II, German POWs were used to help in the construction of new buildings and structures, such as the Kievyan Bridge.

During this period, most 5, 9, 11 and 15 storey apartment blocs were built to accommodate the rising population of Yerevan and neighbouring districts.
 

Typical "Stalinian" bloc in Yerevan

 

A typical 5-storey bloc in Yerevan

With the USSR collapse, a large-scale privatization activities took place in the early nineties. As a result, Armenia has become a nation of homeowners with 96% of housing stock in private hands. Private ownership at market prices, however, is currently not affordable for a large share of the low to middle income group, because they can neither purchase a house themselves, nor have access to affordable mortgage finance.

There is a serious housing problem in Armenia due to several factors. Damage from the 1988 earthquake in the Northern Armenian city of Spitak left thousands of people homeless, and 5% still live in temporary shelter. As the city was destroyed, many people can be found using old school buildings, dangerous and damaged structures, and old train containers and carriages as their homes. Violence between Armenia and neighbouring country Azerbaijan has also led to the convergence of many refugees, many of which suffer without adequate housing.

A declining Soviet era residential building

Many families in Tavush, a war-affected region of Armenia, are in desperate need of assistance with regards to housing. Many of these families are female-headed, and there are many orphans and vulnerable people there.
These factors make finding housing incredibly difficult, especially when combined with mass housing privatisation; 96% of homes are now owned privately. The Armenian government own the further 4%, but these homes are not designed to benefit families with low incomes.
These problems have led to a clear shortage in decent, affordable homes for the poorest members of society. The lack of affordable, adequate and well-managed housing in Armenia has many negative social and economic impacts. These include labour market inflexibility and the resulting unemployment, social restrictions (young families cannot obtain housing), inadequate social and public services, inadequate services to the elderly and pensioners, deteriorating urban areas, and low energy efficiency in housing.

A crumbling Soviet era apartment Building