Armenia’s Gagarin Valley, named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to orbit the Earth, is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. It is home to some 11,000 people in several villages spread over some 18,000 hectares. The landscape consists of a mosaic of some 10,000 plots of land, about a third of which are owned by the local community. Well, commissioned by the Armenian NGO DAR Foundation for Regional Development and Competitiveness, the architectural firm MVRDV, based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has designed a master plan to turn the valley into a versatile, sustainable, environmentally friendly and future-proof landscape.
The project aims to make the Gagarin Valley a place not only suitable for sustainable agriculture, but also for ecotourism and recreation, where people walk, hike, cycle and ride horses, and where it is therefore more attractive to live. To this end, it proposes to create innovative facilities and to add some 12,000 new future-proof homes. The first step towards this self-sufficient valley is to “embrace the area’s history “, in the words of its designers and architects.
The project envisages preserving and reinforcing the existing mosaic of plots, and improving the water system in what is a dry region. In this respect, it includes the restoration and extension of the course of the Hrazdan river, which crosses the valley, combined with the construction of a new system of covered canals. In addition, it proposes the use of mountain reservoirs to irrigate farmland. This will reduce evaporation, improve water reserves and sustain the biodiversity of the area. Along with improved water management, the plan provides for the planting of different local plant species and the creation of new green areas, with more foot and cycle paths, which will make the landscape more visually attractive and stimulate economic diversity.
Moreover, existing buildings in the valley’s villages (some dating back to Soviet times) will be used and remodelled to minimise the impact and avoid the use of building materials as much as possible. In addition, traditional Armenian farmhouses will be used as inspiration for new housing, integrating green roofs. In terms of other infrastructure, the master plan proposes an agricultural education centre, a market, a shopping centre, a centre for the arts and a 4,500-seat stadium.
MVRDV’s “vision” follows the ambitions of the Armenian government, which is willing to support sustainable agriculture and wishes to revive tourism. This transformation of the Gagarin Valley is intended to attract a growing number of inhabitants from different population groups, including the younger generation of Armenians.
