Noah Etnographic District
Thematic sectors
Design approach
Our design approach is focused on promoting, through architecture
and design, Armenian values and the sense of community of Noah
Ethnographic District, creating a synergy between innovation and local
traditions.
This is possible by generating the sense of place, the sense of belonging
of the new community, sharing common values in the same common
place, promoting the individual personalities and diversities, engaging
contemporary tourism with Armenian traditions, culture and aspirations.
We have pondered the co-existence of traditional architecture, that is, the
spontaneous architecture born out of adaptation of available resources and
therefore strongly inluenced by climatic and geographical conditions, and
an innovative and modern design that ensures a high level of comfort and
elevated sustainability in the same form.
As we could not copy the style of passed architecture, so deeply rooted in
a culture and in a tradition as ancient as the Armenian, we are thinking of
an innovative process of design and construction, involving the craftsmen,
who would truly bring their culture and tradition, realizing together with
architects, artists, etc. a really new Armenian architecture, according
to regional techniques handed down from generation to generation and
according to contemporary standard and way of living.
We represented the identity of Armenian traditional elements in three
geographical regions, following the variety of landscape similarities:
• Dry Highlands
• Ararat Valley
• Forest Mountains
The selection of the proposed regions is only a lexible suggestion that can
be expanded or changed according to the input and contribution of experts
in Armenian culture and history.
This preliminary classiication gave us the opportunity to identify 3
thematic Sectors: Sector 1 - Dry Highlands Region, Sector 2 - Ararat
Valley Region, Sector 3 - Ararat Valley Region.
In each region, we have then investigated the typical recurring shapes of
the Armenian traditional architecture, determining a series of tools (Roof,
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Porch, Loggia, Balcony, Bow-Window, Material, Carving, Cultivation) that
recur in the three regions and that have developed diferent architectural
peculiarities because of their geographical diference.
In the possible development of the Master Plan, we will investigate
with accuracy the rules and the regulations, as well the proper design
composition by the tools, in order to conigure the district as a synthesis of
innovation and local tradition tradition, developing a process for the new
Armenian Architecture.
Noah Ethnographic District Master Plan will be the opportunity to
create a pilot project for Armenia, as well to develop an innovative and
attractive district, a great destination for tourists, where visitors and
inhabitants would enjoy an authentic and unique place, made by architects,
artists and craftsmen using materials and techniques supplied from their
original regions, with evident beneits in terms of construction costs and
economical regional growth.
The taste of Armenia
We want to tell the story of Armenian agri-food culture combining local
tradition, high quality food and the expertise of those who have always
been working in the traditional food chains.
Each of the three regions is characterized by rows of vineyards of its more
typical grapes, which will produce the most characteristic wine of the
region; each of the three sectors has many gardens where typical produce
of the region are cultivated, which wise farmers will transform into typical
products to be displayed in the windows of their typical shops and bring
them to the table in the thematic restaurants of each region.
Everything is Armenian, from seed to its inal shape, because the tradition
is in the uniqueness of Armenian territory and climate, and in the skilful
hands of those who know how to take care, transform and cook the
production of their original land.
We want to produce the true taste and beauty of Armenia, and illustrate it
to the rest of the world.
Sector 1: Dry Highlands Region
Sector 2: Ararat Valley Region
Sector 3: Ararat Valley Region