Yerevan 01/10 Honourable mention
competition for a multifunctional complex in Armenia,
presented as 'Fourinateam' (with Giulia Melloni, Simone Pizzagalli and Laurenz Müller)
Mercedes Benz Armenia, Intercontinental Hotels and the International Union of Architects had organised a competition for the design of an Intercontinental Hotel in Yerevan. The programme included also a Business centre, a residential complex, a Congress centre and public facilities. There were 274 projects submitted and the proposal of ‘Fourinateam’ received an Honourable mention.
In our plan we are treating the site as a citadel. Drawing inspiration from historical Armenian settlements like the Kond we propose an organisation of the terrain that is dependent on the topography of the location. The lower and steeper parts of the site we “populate” with smaller and diversely oriented blocks. These blocks are stacked up on top of each other and as they reach the edges of the hill the get grouped in larger entities. The plateau of the hill allows on its term a rational use of the site and this is where we propose the introduction of a system of grids. The grids provide for more rational forms to take shape, as well as the development of bigger volumes. The structure culminates in elegant towers of different heights and plan dimensions.
We propose to organise the flat part of the site by introducing 3 separate grids. The grids are composed of a module of 7.5m by 7.5m. In the lines of each grid we introduce a square, also orientated to one of the 3 reference directions. We propose using these 3 different open spaces as anchoring elements for the future development of the site. The functions required by the competition brief are implemented around the biggest of these squares. The other two we propose developing already as underground parking lots and using their ground surface as temporary public spaces: open air cinema, tennis court, football field, etc.
Our project attempts to create a lively, vibrant and productive new part of the city. We envision an organisation of space that will allow the gradual development of the site and will attach to its nearby and far context. Not only will the new development connect to the city. It will become a new centrality in the urban structure, a new reference point for the inhabitants and guests of Yerevan.
location
site plan
main orientation directions
site accessibility
view from the roundabout
view from the highway
view from Teryan street
square and lobby
section through wellness
section through restaurant
section through lobby
square and lobby
hotel lobby
canyon, bottom part
room interior
exploded axonometry of the project
level -22
level -19
level -10
level -7
level -4
level 0
level +5
level +8
level +12
level +15
level +21
phasing