Sevan Writers’ Rest House - Soviet Modernist Architecture in Armenia

Sevan Writers' Rest House consists of two separate structures, Residence Hall and Lounge Building, both erected at different times during the Soviet reign.

The Residence Hall was designed by Gevorg Kochar (1901-1973) and Mikayel Mazmanyan (1899-1971). The examination of archival materials revealed that Mikayel Mazmanyan’s name  is not mentioned on the project’s architectural drawings, which leads to the assumption that he only participated in the preliminary stage of design. At the same time, his name is mentioned in many publications, including some printed during their lifetime, as co-author of the building.

Sevan Writers' House in 1970. Photo: Nemrut Baghdasarian

The first drawings of the Residence Hall are dated 1932, while archival photographs and materials suggest that the construction was completed in 1935.

The building was initially designed as a four-story building. One of these was a basement (now the first floor), the other was a common area. The other two floors were designed for guest rooms with four rooms on each floor, each room occupying an area of 4.3m x 2.9m (9.5”x14”).

Sketch of the building, 1963

Architect: G. Kochar

Source: Archives of the National Museum-Institute of Architecture named after Alexander Tamanyan, Yerevan

Sadly, The Great Purge or the Great Terror (1937), didn't bypass both architects and in 1937, Kochar and Mazmanian were arrested right at their workplace. They were accused of espionage, treason, and involvement in a Trotskyist-Bukharinist group. The Military Collegium sentenced both to 15 years in labor camps and an additional 5 years of civil disenfranchisement. They spent a year in the Vologda penal zone, where the harsh conditions left little chance of survival.

Gevorg Kochar and Mikayel Mazmanyan

Their fate changed thanks to a friend— architect Karo Halabyan—who, through Mikoyan, secured their transfer to Norilsk. There, the architects contributed to the construction of major industrial facilities, the master plans for Norilsk and Dudinka, and designed landmark buildings in the city center, including the ensemble of Guards Square. Yet all the credit went to the free-hired management.

In 1954, Mazmanian was rehabilitated. It wasn’t until 1960—six years later—that Kochar was also able to return to Yerevan, where he assumed the position of Chief Architect at the Yerevanproject Institute.

After their return, they were reintegrated into the architectural life of the post-Stalinist period.

In 1963, Kochar was commissioned to develop a reconstruction and an extension project for the Sevan Resort. In the reconstruction project, Kochar added an additional floor to the Residence Hall, forming a new wide terrace, which was the logical continuation of the original project's concept.

The Lounge Building today...

During the resort's reconstruction, Kochar also designed and built the new Lounge Building. Stylistically, the new building contrasted with the Residence Hall, but both of them formed a harmonious ensemble in combination with the natural landscape and incorporated the view of the medieval architecture of Sevan Monastery churches on the top of the peninsula. After the reconstruction, the Lounge and the Residence Hall of Sevan Writers House became one of the most iconic buildings of post-Stalin modernist Soviet Architecture.

The view from the Dining Hall

The Lounge with it’s protruding rounded design is definitely the trademark of the complex and stands harmoniously among the rocky terrain and offers an unforgettable panoramic view from inside! Moreover, the entire wing is balanced on one concrete leg, giving the structure a futuristic aesthetic. At the opposite end of its axis, the building is attached to the rock on a higher level of the hill. The overall space of the Lounge building is divided into two major parts. One part is the dining hall, which has a circular plan and is located towards the front of the building. Half of the dining hall circle is designed as a panoramic floor-to-ceiling window looking over a spectacular view of Lake Sevan. The dining hall also has an exit to a semi-circular open-sided loggia behind the panoramic window. The second part, in the rear half of the building is used for the foyer of the dining hall.

The Residence Hall

Unfortunately, the complex has not been renovated for a long time, but tuning in and enjoying a cup of beer or coffee can always have a relaxing effect! The view from the Lounge is breathtaking! Cheers!

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