Armenia’s nature, culture and history in one pavilion: COP17 showcase welcomes around 10,000 visitors
4 minute read
From the architectural grandeur of Zvartnots to Garni’s Symphony of Stones, from Lchashen’s ancient heritage to the symbolic presence of Lake Sevan, COP17’s Armenia pavilion brought nature and culture together, introducing visitors to the country through distinctive artistic and architectural designs.
“I think the pavilion has been a success, and almost every visitor has been talking about it. Many people have come, bringing others with them. I think everyone has been very impressed. We have presented architecture, nature and wildlife, as well as something very important: exceptional examples of Lchashen culture held at our History Museum, which are around 3,500 years old,” Karen Khachatryan, creator and coordinator of COP17’s Armenia pavilion, told Armenpress.
According to its creators, the challenge was to present Armenia’s multilayered heritage within a short timeframe and a space of just 800 square metres.
“We have tried to bring together the finest elements of Armenian culture in a single narrative, from nature and bird-shaped lettering to the soundscape we created using the sounds of the Armenian duduk and nature. We have tried to create a coherent narrative for this pavilion so that, upon entering, visitors can grasp the essence of Armenia, its Armenian spirit and the wonders of our natural world,” said director Hrach Keshishyan, co-creator of the pavilion’s concept.
Moving from nature to culture, the pavilion’s creators sought to convey a complete picture of Armenia while providing a warm and welcoming environment.
“I consider the pavilion a success because we have received positive feedback from almost every visitor. It is a hybrid pavilion where people can come simply to relax. I am grateful to the team. I also do not want to forget our volunteers, who provided an excellent guide service. I also thank the Ministry of Environment for entrusting us with this work,” said pavilion producer Arman Tsaturyan.
The pavilion’s architect, Avetis Grigoryan, said it had become a distinctive platform for telling Armenia’s story during the conference.
“Here, visitors discovered not only our history and culture but also the natural world whose conservation was one of COP17’s main messages. The Armenian pavilion is based on two pillars that we had to express. Through the pavilion, we are trying to make its Armenian identity as clear as possible: visitors should understand as soon as they enter that they are in the Armenian pavilion. At the same time, we had to present the important elements of sustainable development relating to nature and climate that we needed to address during this event,” he stressed.
Around 10,000 visitors, positive feedback and one shared goal: to introduce the world to Armenia through the full richness of its nature, culture and millennia-old heritage.