Guide to Yerevan Soviet architecture

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia (and one of my all-time favorite cities) can be a very interesting place for all the architecture lovers. Carefully designed at the beginning of the 20th century by Alexander Tumanyan, Yerevan is a masterpiece of urban planning of that time.

But while many of the Yerevan architecture gems are from the first half of the 1900s, fans of Soviet architecture will be contented as well. After all, Armenia has been part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and the country’s architecture was inspired and somehow imposed by Moscow too.

Prior to each of my trip to Yerevan (and there were many of them), I did my researches to find some good Yerevan brutalism examples and then tried to visit them all. And today I’m sharing with you all the best places where to find Yerevan Soviet architecture so you won’t need to repeat my researched all over the internet.

I also included some practical tips on how to get to those places (especially those located further away from the center) as well as some information about the buildings. At the end of the post, you will also find the map of brutalism architecture in Yerevan.

So, without any further ado, here is my guide to Yerevan Soviet architecture.

---

Would you like to take on your trip the ad-free PDF version of this guide? You can purchase it, together with the offline map, by clicking here or on the photo below.

---

How to get around Yerevan to find the best of Soviet Yerevan architecture

Unfortunately, public transport in Yerevan can be confusing for a foreign visitor. There are numerous buses and minibusses going around the whole city but their route is written in Armenian language only and while this is a beautiful language to look at, you will also understand next to nothing from it.

Fortunately, the majority of Soviet architecture buildings in Yerevan are in close proximity to the center and within a walking distance from the main attractions and from each other.

You can also take the metro around to see some of them. There is only one metro line in Yerevan but it can come handy when visiting places like Cinema Rossiya, Aram Khachaturian House-Museum or metro stations.

To get to interesting buildings a bit far away I recommend using Yandex Taxi. This app works like an Uber and offers very good prices. You don’t need to register your credit card in it, you can pay in cash directly to the driver.

Further down this article, I will include the approximate prices if taking Yandex Taxi from the Republic Square, just to give you the impression of what you might expect to pay.

You would need a local SIM card with internet data to order Yandex Taxi. I recommend Airalo eSim card – use my code “KAMILA1947” to get $3 off your first order. I always use it during my travels.

Yerevan Soviet architecture

Cascade

The Cascade complex is one of the most impressive sites you will find in the city and the main Yerevan tourist attraction.

It was designed by architects Sargis Gurzadyan, Jim Torosyan, and Aslan Mkhitaryan. The works on the complex started in 1971 and nine years later the first part of the Cascade was finished. Further works continued in 2000s.

The Cascade complex consists of a few levels where you can find numerous modern sculptures as well as Armenian folk decorations. You can also admire from here the best view of Yerevan and if you are lucky, the iconic Mount Ararat. Inside you can visit Cafesjian Center for the Arts – the modern art museum with works of some of the world-known artists.

Pro tip – if you would like to get to the top of the Cascade but you don’t want to walk all these stairs up you can find the escalator inside the Cascade, the entrance is on the left side.

Address: 10 Tamanyan St

How to get there: you can easily walk to the Cascade from all the central locations of Yerevan.

Institute of Communication

Not only the building is pretty amazing, there is also a beautiful bas relief, reminding me of the famous one from Minsk, Belarus so much. You can also find some folk Armenian ornaments here.

Build in 1976

Architects: Armen Aghalyan, Grigori Grigoryan

Address: 24 Azatutyan Ave

How to get there: Institute of Communication is located a bit away from the center (and what’s more – it’s a massive uphill way to get there). I took Yandex Taxi to get there, it cost me 700 AMD from near the metro station Republic Square.

Cinema Rossiya

It used to be the largest cinema in Armenia that could fit up to 2500 people. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cinema Rossiya was abandoned and now partly serves as a shopping center.

It was designed to resemble Mount Ararat with its two peaks.

Built between 1968-1975.

Architect: Spartak Khachikyan, Hrachik Poghosyan, and Artur Tarkhanyan

Address: 16 Tigran Mets Ave

How to get there: You can walk there from the Republic Square, it’s not too far. You can also take the metro to Zoravar Andranik station, the entry to the station is right in front of Cinema Rossiya.

Komitas Chamber Music Theater

Built between 1968-77

Architect: Stepan Kyurkchyan

The hall was built in the shape of the Armenian church with three-nave basilica design. It can fit up to 300 people. On the walls, you can find Armenian ornaments.

Address: 1 Isahakyan St

How to get there: The nearest metro station is Yeritasardakan. You can also walk here from the central part of the city, Republic Square is 1,5 kilometer away.

Metro station Yeritasardakan

This is one of the most iconic buildings when it comes to Soviet architecture in Yerevan. Yeritasardakan metro station was built in 1981 and is well known for the distinctive tube above the entrance to the station.

Designed and built between 1972-81

Architect: Stepan Kyurkchyan

Address: Isahakyan St, between Abovyan and Teryan streets

How to get there: You can obviously take the metro to Yeritasardakan station or walk here from the center. It’s not too far away from the Cascade or the Opera House.

Tigran Petrosian Chess House

Chess in Armenia is very important. Kids at school have mandatory chess lessons from the age of 6 (this is the only country in the world when chess play such a big role in the education program).

In the center of Yerevan you will find the Chess House, opened in 1971. The triangular-shaped building is home to Yerevan chess school, considered one of the best chess centers in the world. While the interior isn’t very impressive it is still worth to peek inside.

Built in 1970

Architect Zhanna Mescheryakova

Address: 50a Khanjyan St

How to get there: You can walk here from the center, it is some 1,2 kilometer away from Republic Square.

Zvartnots Airport

Located 12 km away from the center, Zvartnots Airport is worth the trip even if you are not flying in or out of Yerevan.

The Terminal 1 of the airport is another iconic architecture gem of Yerevan, even if it’s been abandoned since 2011 and has been decaying. The circular terminal is in danger as every now and then the rumors it’s about to be demolished appear – I truly hope it will be kept and hopefully renovated as this is such a unique building!

Built in 1980.

Architects A. Tarkhanyan, S. Khachikyan, L. Cherkezyan, Zh. Shekhlyan

Constructor S.Bagdasaryan

Address: Zvartnots International Airport

How to get there: You can take the bus from Yeritasardakan metro station or the Republic Square, it runs 24/7 and costs 300 AMD/one way. You might also take Yandex Taxi, it should cost you around 1500 AMD.

Cable Car Station

The abandoned cable car station is located in the center of Yerevan. It was built in 1962 and has been working until the tragic accident in 2004.

When you visit the cable car station go through the muddle of rubbish and you will be surprised by the original car still being at the station.

Built in 1962

Architect: Baghdasar Arzumanyan et al.

Address: 1, 3 Charents St

How to get there: The closest metro station is Yeritasardakan (650 meters away). You can also walk here from Komitas Chamber Music Theater.

Ministry of Labour and Social

Built in 1972

Architects T. Gevorkyan, V. Gusyan

Address: Government House 3, Aram Street

How to get there: the building is located next to the Republic Square metro station

Marshal Baghramyan metro station

The entrance to the metro station, especially its aboveground entrance hall, was built in the brutalist style.

Buit in 1981.

Architects S.Kntekhtsyan, A. Zurabyan.

Engineer I.Manucharyan, A.Sargsyan

Address: 21 Marshal Baghramyan Ave

How to get there: Take the metro to the Marshal Baghramyan station.

Blocks of flats

You can find them all over the city, some of them even in the center. They were mostly built in the 1970s, often with the use of the pink tuff – one of Yerevan’s most distinctive features. If you like Soviet architecture, you will definitely appreciate them!

Karen Demirchyan Complex

The complex was opened in 1983 but was closed sho