Armen Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 http://www.azg.am/?lang=EN&num=2005021805 AZG Armenian Daily #029, 18/02/2005 Culture ARMENIAN ARCHITECTS CONTRIBUTE THEIR MITE IN TURKEY’S BEAUTY Armenian Museum-Institute of Architecture has assembled huge material on Armenian architects living and working in Diaspora that will be compiled in 27 volumes. The first volume -"The Iranian-Armenian Architects" – is ready. The book of Ashot Grigorian, head of the museum, titled "Armenian Architects of Constantinople" will be issued this year on occasion of 90th anniversary of Armenian Genocide. "We thought that there were not Armenian architects in Istanbul after 1915 before we went on research. To our great surprise we found out that the Armenians of Turkey kept on studying architecture abroad and built many unique constrictions. Researches disclosed that the word ‘architect’ came into use only after the WW II replacing the word ‘constructor’. Interestingly most of them were Armenians. We find a group of constructors beginning from 1900s and professional architects appear thereafter. Besides architects and town-planners there is also the profession of architect-decorator in Istanbul. Most of the Armenians specialized in these 3 professions have their own workshops and offices. Many of them are members of Turkish Union of Architectures and even of various international unions", Grigorian says. He tells that the architects from Palian dynasty were famous in Constantinople in 19th century and they are considered founders of Turkish architecture. Turks never denied this fact. Grigorian’s book is introducing 100 Armenian architects from Constantinople and presents the history of Armenian architecture in Turkey. The prologue of the book will be translated in English and Turkish. Ashot Grigorian says that it is hard to preserve Armenian features in the works of Armenian Diaspora architects as they were brought up in other culture and that differs them from architects in Armenia. Works of the most of Diaspora architects, especially buildings designed for Armenian community, bear features of Armenian medieval architecture. Local and Diaspora architects are highly valued for combining national characteristics with modern trends, Grigorian thinks. By Ruzan Poghosian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arvestaked Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Interesting. I would like to get these books. I never understood why Armenians continued to contribute to Turkish society. Especially after 1915. It just does not make sense to me. The successful ones, such as these architects, could have been successful anywhere, and yet they chose to work in Turkey. There must be something I do not know that would shed some light on that for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted February 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 I never understood why Armenians continued to contribute to Turkish society. style_images/master/snapback.png As far as I understand the reason is because Armenians in general view the prosperity of a given society they reside as primary over their nationalism. Even in Turkey. I consider it very positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koko Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 positive yes? but for who? Only for the turks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted February 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 A positive characteristic for a human being, not a positive factor for oneself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.