YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The Balyan family has left a significant trace in Istanbul’s architecture. Armenian specialists have studied the archival documents reached from Italy to Armenia and the history of the architectural works of the Balyans has been summed up in the “Treasures of the gardens of the Armenian People: Balyans” book.

Chief Scientific-Secretary of the A. Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture Ashot Grigoryan told a press conference in ARMENPRESS that hundreds of buildings have been built in Istanbul by the Balyan family.

“The Balyans were very famous architects in Turkey, but their Armenian ethnicity was rejected for many years. They were presented as Italian architects. We have found the Balyans’ archive in Italy and transferred it to Armenia with a great difficulty. Initially, it seemed we could study it very quickly and publicize it, but when we started the work, we understood that it’s quite a hard work. The archival documents were written in French, Turkish, Western Armenian most of which were difficult to read. These documents have not been circulated in any way for more than 100 years”, Ashot Grigoryan said.

The Dolmabahçe Palace of Istanbul, as well as a barrack, castles, mosques, reservoirs have been built by the Balyans. Ashot Grigoryan said the Balyans cooperated with the Armenian specialists and they mainly worked with Armenians during the construction of buildings. Some of these buildings have been burnt for different reasons, some have been changed, but most of them have been maintained.

At the moment the book is being translated into Turkish to be spread within the Turkish universities and academic circles.

“A little was talked about the Balyans in Armenia. Thanks to the translations the whole world should be aware that many buildings in Istanbul have been built by Armenians. The book solves a problem of recognition and preservation of the Armenian culture”, Ashot Grigoryan said.