Reawakening a Forgotten Icon

This project revolves around a remarkable but long-overlooked structure in the heart of Yerevan. Designed in the late 1970s by Jim Torosyan—one of Armenia’s most influential architects of the 20th century—the building originally served as an extension to the Modern Art Museum across the street. Completed in 1985, it stood out immediately for its unconventional design and controversial presence.

Architecturally, it is a striking example of late Soviet Modernism. Its five massive cylindrical volumes—quickly nicknamed “the barrels” by locals—rest atop concrete pillars, hovering above what was once a public plaza animated by a reflective pool and sculptural platforms.

Like much of Armenia’s Soviet-era architecture, the building’s promise was short-lived. With the collapse of the USSR, it was neglected and left in limbo. Its bold geometry and hybrid program made it an unlikely candidate for privatization. Over time, it was repurposed in strange and inconsistent ways—from a sausage production line to an exotarium—and at several points, it faced the threat of demolition.

Our studio approached the project with a strong sense of responsibility—not only to preserve a work of architectural significance, but to reimagine its role in the life of the city. Our ambition is to transform it into a dynamic contemporary art space that honors its past while unlocking new possibilities.

Rather than compete with it, we chose to listen.

Our intervention unfolds beneath the barrels, in the space where public life was originally intended to happen. Sculptural and expressive, the new insertion weaves gently between the original concrete pillars, creating a welcoming, layered spatial experience and introducing all the functional elements that the original design lacked. The addition is visually distinct, yet the pillars remain fully exposed, and the long-forgotten ground-level space once again becomes an active part of the urban fabric—preserving and extending Torosyan’s vision.

The cylindrical galleries themselves are being restored and modernized with care. Their minimal layout is retained, allowing the exhibition spaces to remain flexible, open, and free for artistic experimentation.