HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

1916, 1933

State index: 1.6.94.4

Architects: Pavel Zurabyan, Alexander Tamanyan

The hospital is located between Abovyan and Heratsi streets, in vicinity with the Abovyan park, at 58th Abovyan street. In 1893, by the decision of the Yerevan City Duma a 12-bed stationary department was created next to the outpatient clinic located on Behbutov (formerly Sverdlov, now P. Buzand Street), the costs of which were covered by the City Duma. The hospital building was small (not preserved) and did not meet all health requirements of the city’s population. Therefore, the authorities rented nearby private houses while simultaneously launching the process of construction of the new building. The first director of the hospital was Dr. A. Simonyan, then Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, who headed the medical department for almost 12 years (1895-1907). He was succeeded by surgeon Hovhannes Ter-Mikayelyants. During his tenure, the construction of the new black building of the first city hospital began. In the beginning of the XX century, the Duma convened several sessions on the issue of construction of the city hospital.

In 1908, the city administration (uprava) published information in the press that the authorities were intended to acquire land for the purpose of building a hospital, and a tender for the project of a new hospital construction was announced.

The famous businessman Vasili Shustov (one of the owners of the famous wine brandy company “Nikolay Shustov and Sons”) donated his own land to the city located on the Astafyan (now Abovyan) Street, a little above the Teacher’s Seminary, on the coastal banks of the Getar River. In order to build the institution as soon as possible, the famous businessman agreed on the conditions that the building must be constructed in 3 years, otherwise the land would be returned to the company. The Duma decided to build a hospital with 100 beds. The project of Tbilisi-Armenian architect Pavel Zurabyan (Zurabov), who was already known for the construction of Michael Aramyants Hospital in Tbilisi, was selected. In 1914 the foundation stone of the first building was put. During the First World War, only one building of the planned 6 was built. In 1917, when the two-story, black tuff structure designed with columns was ready for operation, it turned into a Caucasian Front military hospital.

In 1918 the First Republic of Armenia was proclaimed. The government invited Armenian doctors and other specialists living abroad to contribute to building a newly independent Armenian homeland.

In1919 famous doctor Grigor Areshyan moved from Tbilisi to Yerevan. With his active engagement, the first city hospital of Yerevan was officially opened in the same year.

Soon there were opened surgical, therapeutic, obstetric and gynecological departments. The hospital was transferred from the city administration to the Ministry of Public Welfare and Labor. After the establishment of Soviet regime in Armenia, the hospital undergone under operation of the People’s Commissariat of Healthcare. In 1920-1930s in the vicinity with the first hospital, other medical institutions were built, which had been planned in 1924 according to the Yerevan’s master plan (architect: Alexander Tamanyan). In 1933 the first building was reconstructed. A third floor was added to it. A complex of hospital buildings was created having the first black tuff made building as its center.

In 2002 the city hospital, together with the “Heratsi” hospital complex, was included within the Yerevan State Medical University (formerly the Medical Institute), which made it possible to combine educational and practical medicine courses.

In 2015 there were implemented restoration works. The activities of famous doctors such as Ter-Mikayeliants, Spandarat Kamsarakan, Grigor Areshyan, Artashes Melik-Adamyan, Ruben Gyandjetsyan, Hambardzum Kechek and etc. are related with the hospital. The three-story (including high plinth) building with lateral buildings has an asymmetric H-shaped structure in its plan.  In the central part of the building a front entrance is emphasized made of 4 Doric columns, which is also the main entrance of the hospital.

“Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality