CONCERT HALLS & MUSIC VENUES

1911-1915 - 1954

HOUSE OF CULTURE: THE BUILDING OF THE MALE GYMNASIUM (SMALL HALL OF ARMENIAN PHILHARMONIC) AND MUSEUMS

State Index: 1.6.96.2

Architects: Vasili Mirzoyan, A. Vasilev, V. Simonson, Eduard Sarapyan, Mark Grigoryan

“Armenia” stained glass: 1966, Artists: Martiros Saryan, Henrik Siravyan

The building stands on the northern edge of Republic Square at 2 Abovyan Street. Builders constructed it for the male classical gymnasium, the most important educational institution of Yerevan province, from 1911 to 1915.

Since 1920, the structure has served various purposes. It has housed the Central Pedagogical Museum, Yerevan House of Culture (1921), State Museum of Armenian History, State Public Library, Technical Faculty of the State University, Armenian Writers' House, and others. In 1932, the gymnasium's assembly hall became the Armenian Philharmonic Hall (from 1956, the Small Hall, and from 1976, the Small Hall of Armenian Concert). In 1936, people bid farewell to the great Komitas's remains brought to his homeland here. Since 2003, the hall bears the name of the famous Armenian composer Arno Babajanian. The building also houses the National Gallery of Armenia, and museums of Armenian History, Revolution, and Literature and Art named after Yeghishe Charents.

The gymnasium building is a two-story, П-shaped structure built around an inner courtyard. Classrooms line the corridors in the wings facing Aram and P. Buzand streets. The residential areas, including student dormitories and administration apartments, occupied the end sections of both wings. The main façade facing Abovyan Street features a prominent central section (now the “Arno Babajanyan” concert hall) with a grand entrance adorned with large Ionic columns. A high cornice with dentils crowns the building. It measures 21 x 26 meters and combines black and red polished tuff. The architecture blends classical style with Armenian national building traditions and Art Nouveau elements.

Three large windows in the foyer of the “Arno Babajanyan” concert hall feature the “Armenia” stained glass (1966, artist Martiros Saryan, with Henrik Siravyan's participation). It depicts motifs of Mount Ararat, plains, mountains, trees, and city, creating a unified, symbolic image of Armenia in Saryan's incomparable vibrant colors.

The male gymnasium building underwent changes during the construction of Republic Square and the House of Culture. In 1954, Eduard Sarapyan and Mark Grigoryan designed the Museum building. They preserved the gymnasium's interior space and the façade facing Abovyan Street while adding a third floor. In the inner courtyard, they built the seven-story National Gallery of Armenia, which takes the form of an octagonal drum (architects: Mark Grigoryan, Eduard Sarapyan). Architect A. Ghazaryan and builders V. Ghulyan and Gurgen Kanetsyan also contributed to the gallery's construction. The gallery's completion in 1980 finalized the main square's formation.

In front of the Museum building, in the square's table-like section, Mark Grigoryan and Eduard Sarapyan designed a fountain pool in 1953. This feature not only emphasizes the square's oval section but also softens its microclimate.

 “Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality