1 of 25

Gaianè Casnati, Emma Harutyunyan, Armen Minassian

Directions for Cultural Heritage Preservation in Armenia

Dilijan 2023

2 of 25

Task force

Marco Brambilla, architectural heritage expert, Domus design

Gaianè Casnati, Europa Nostra council member

Emma Harutunyan, Head of Chair in Theory and History of Architecture and Heritage, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia

Nanar Kalantaryan, Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage

Armen Minassian, National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia

Sipana Tchakerian, National Institute of Art History

Dilijan 2023

3 of 25

Advisory group

  • Levon Chookaszyan, Head of Chair of History and Theory of Armenian Art at Yerevan State University
  • Yvon Cottier, École nationale supérieure d architecture de Clermont-Ferrand France, Architecte DPLG/ Architecte du patrimoine/ Économiste de la construction 
  • Marina Djabbarzade, Heritage Management specialist, Washington
  • Patrick Donabédian, Associate Professor Emeritus of Armenian Studies and Medieval Art, LA3M Aix Marseille Université
  • Mariacristina Giambruno, PhD in Preservation of Architectural Heritage, Full professor at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies
  • Artak Grigoryan, COO at ReArmenia collaboration platform
  • Claudio Margottini, Full Professor in Engineering Geology (Italian National Scientific Habilitation) and adjunct Professor at the UNESCO Chair in the University of Florence
  • Maria Markou, Associate Professor at NTUA School of Architecture, Greece
  • Armen Martirossyan, Seismic engineer
  • Gevorg Poghosyan, CEO at ReArmenia collaboration platform
  • Marco Pretelli, PhD in Conservazione dell'Architettura - Federico II, Napoli, Full Professor in Preservation of Architectural Heritage, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna
  • Arev Samuelyan, vice president of the Armenian chamber of Architects
  • Daniele Spizzichino, Researcher, Civil & Environmental Engineer ISPRA
  • Wanja Wedekind, German Archeological Institut (DAI), Applied Conservation Science Research Assistant, lecturer and conservation expert
  • Arà Zarian, heritage architect and frescoes preservation expert
  • Stephane Zekian, CNRS, IHRIM

Dilijan 2023

4 of 25

Armenian cultural heritage is under existential threat

  • War
  • Cultural genocide
  • Vandalism
  • Deliberate / unconscious destruction
  • Earthquakes / landslides
  • Lack of maintenance
  • Lack of expertise
  • Gaps in the regulation system
  • Lack of intergenerational exchange

​

5 of 25

Artsakh

6 of 25

While the immense and diversified heritage of Armenians is at high risk,

the potential for finding the resources for its safeguard is high,

both in terms of expertise and funding

Nakhichevan before 1981 / after 2005

Dilijan 2023

7 of 25

Armenia

8 of 25

Armenia

Dilijan 2023

9 of 25

Armenia

Dilijan 2023

10 of 25

Armenia

Dilijan 2023

11 of 25

Opportunities

While the immense and diversified heritage of Armenians is at high risk,

the potential for finding the resources for its safeguard is high,

both in terms of expertise and funding

Dilijan 2023

12 of 25

Civil society and the diaspora …

Many success stories … to continued and to be taken as example and a huge target group

why it is not working as it should?

Dilijan 2023

13 of 25

Barzrakash monastery was in the World Monuments Watch list and in the / Most Endangered short list

Dilijan 2023

14 of 25

​

EDUCATION

​

                  • Higher Education
                  • University Master Degrees compliant with European standards and UNESCO requirements

​

                  • Vocational Training and Capacity Building
                  • Colleges
                  • On site hands on trainings on pilot projects

Key ideas and proposed program

​

CONTEXT

                  • Improvement of the regulatory system, the implementation structure and processes to bring all up to European Standards

​

                  • Creation of an Armenian Heritage Hub
                  • Innovation
                  • Participatory and multidisciplinary approach
                  • Involvement of civil society and the diaspora

Dilijan 2023

15 of 25

​

PRIORITIES

​

                  • Master in architectural heritage preservation
                  • Master in structural repair of built heritage
                  • Specializing courses / Master in medieval stratigraphical archaeology
                  • ….

Higher Education

Dilijan 2023

16 of 25

University Master in architectural heritage preservation

​

Educational path approved by the Ministry of Education of RAA

​

Starting in September 2023

​

120 credits - English and Armenian language courses

​

3 months internship in Europe for the students

​

Teachers mobility in and out exploiting already ongoing collaborations and opening new ones

​

Pilot project on one selected monument each year in collaboration with the MoESCS

​

Periodical scientific publications

Dilijan 2023

17 of 25

University Master in architectural heritage preservation

​

Impact

A new generation of architect restorers (now the average age is 60)

In 10 years 25 local teachers trained and at least 150 local students trained

A University Master attractive also to foreign students from the Region and outside

Improved the already active international collaborations and opened new ones

New curricula defined and launched

Preservation projects designed for at least 5 monuments and their preservation promoted

Armenia represented in international conferences and prizes

Operational Budget

Ensured by:

  • NUACA University
  • enrollment fees
  • Erasmus projects

Budget needed to improve impact

Scolarships 10.000$

Teachers mobility 50 to 80.000$

Publication 10.000$

Internships for students 40.500$

Laboratory equipments 45.000$

Dilijan 2023

18 of 25

Setting a new curriculum and a modern teaching methodology for preservation work masters

(stone, mortar, frescoes, mud brick)

​

Strong theoretical preparation

​

Practice both at school and on site

​

Local and foreign teachers

​

Internships near European firms specialized in preservation works

​

Collaboration and exchange with master students

Vocational Training and Capacity Building

NUACA manages a Yerevan Secondary Vocational Education College / formerly State Construction College named after Al. Tamanyan

Dilijan 2023

19 of 25

Impact

​

          • In 9 years at least 90 specialized workers trained
          • Implementation of preservation works in the 5 sites selected for the Master
          • Better quality for local interventions
          • Increasing occupation

Budget needed

  • Rehabilitation of the school building 100.000$
  • Tools, equipments and materials 85.000$
  • Teachers mobility 10.000$
  • Students internships (30 students) 81.000$
  • Logistics for hands on training 40.500$

Dilijan 2023

20 of 25

​

Key points

    • Compliance with international standards
    • Improved monitoring - risk map - prioritization
    • Smooth processes and clear criteria
    • Quality standards
    • Procurement and implementation regulations tailored on heritage

Improvement of the regulatory system

Dilijan 2023

21 of 25

​

Possible solutions

​

    • TWINNING project
    • International and local consultancy
    • Study tours

Improvement of the regulatory system

​

  • devising a price list for preservation works and a set of quality requirements for the methodologies and the materials to be used in restoration
  • setting clear and objective criteria for decision making about preservation projects design
  • creating a quality system for the preservation projects design and implementation
  • setting clear rules for the interventions on cultural heritage both ifor local experts and for foreign missions
  • include specific prescriptions for

preservation works, in the procure-

ment law for construction

First do not harm

Dilijan 2023

22 of 25

  • knowledge-sharing, networking, training and capacity-building

​

  • advocacy platform for cultural heritage stakeholders

​

  • strengthen the engagement of citizens with cultural heritage

  • focus on the younger generation of heritage professionals

​

  • build connections with existing initiatives, and generate communication and awareness-raising campaigns on safeguarding cultural heritage

Creation of an Armenian Heritage Hub

Dilijan 2023

23 of 25

Armenian Heritage Hub

​

  • Leveraging the resources of the diaspora but also of local civil society
  • Coordination and collaboration among existing initiatives
  • Long term capacity building
  • Favor fruitful collaboration within local and foreign experts
  • Be rooted on the territory, promote a participatory approach
  • Raising awareness and communication
  • Giving visibility to Armenia at EU level

Dilijan 2023

24 of 25

Figures

Customization and Web site design 10.000$

Crowdfunding and collaboration platform 36.000$

Hosting 3.000$

Payrolls (5 local and 1 international) 120.000$

Logistics 40.000$

Events organization 30.000$

Dilijan 2023

25 of 25

Thank you!