urbanlab or urbanlab.am, is Yerevan-based independent urban think & do tank, aimed to promote democratization of urban landscape toward sustainable development in its broader understanding.
Contents
- Background
- Planning and architecture
- Research and consultancy
- Advocacy and education
- Publications
- Exhibitions
- References
Established in 2006 by architects Sarhat Petrosyan and Sevada Petrossian, urbanlab is the result of a long term collaboration between the two architects in different formats since their graduation from National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia in 2003.
Background
In 2004, right after graduation and after their win of the Recognition Prize for a collaborative design entry at a competition (Derli House, Residential Complex), Sevada Petrossian and Sarhat Petrosyan, joined by another fellow architect, established Architect's Lab.
While practicing architecture, Architect's Lab members teamed up with young activists to raise concerns about urban issues of Yerevan, protection of immobile heritage and community involvement in decision-making process of urban planning.
Notable issues, in which the team was involved, included raising awareness for the value and conditions of the medieval neighborhood Kond (a project, on which urbanlab Yerevan is still working), saving Sevan Hotel (an early 20th century constructivist building in central Yerevan) and the campaign for saving the late 18th-early 20th century urban fabric of central Yerevan which was under threat of demolition and disappearance because of the construction of Northern Avenue. The latter campaign failed and Northern Avenue was completed in 2007.
In 2007, urbanlab team (as Sarhat and Partners) was invited by French-Swiss Architect Pierre Rambach as executive architects for the implementation of Yerevan’s Lovers' Park (formerly Pushkin Park) landscaping project.
In February 2010, by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Open-Air Hall of Moscow Cinema was taken off of Armenia's Protected Immobile Heritage list, paving way for its demolition and the rebuilding of Saint Paul-Peter church which used to stand here until early 20th century. Once again teaming up with activists, urbanlab founders started a successful campaign for saving the cinema hall from destruction, by employing social networks (Save Cinema Moscow Open Air Hall page on Facebook gained more than 6’000 members in a very short time) and rallying for signatures, collecting over 23,000. Until today Moscow Cinema Open-Air Hall is operational. ”This has been the first case in the post-Soviet history of Yerevan where a major construction project was halted because of public opposition. As such it stood in stark contrast to earlier construction projects that were carried out during the 2000s, even though there had been both public criticism and civic campaigns directed against these projects as well.“, states historian Mikayel Zolyan in his paper “Armenia’s Facebook Generation: Social networks and civic activism in Armenia” published by the University of California, Berkeley.
Establishment of urbanlab Yerevan Institute for Democratization of Urban Planning was announced on November 8, 2011 during a PechaKucha presentation. According to the official announcement by the firm, their efforts are "focused on the democratization of urban planning. We are a collaborative research-based design team working to improve the built environment by ensuring and advocating community involvement in the decision-making process of urban planning combined with an inalienable right for people to live in a healthy and sustainable environment. Our efforts are directed towards re-evaluating and cultivating the social role of environment builders, urban planners, architects, social scientists and other professionals".
Planning and architecture
The team carries out architectural and planning projects, which are mostly socially and culturally aware and tend to be in accordance with general principals of their socially active role.
Notable architectural and planning projects carried out by the team are:
Research and consultancy
urbanlab Yerevan also realizes research and consults stakeholders of urban planning, whose aim is “to improve the built environment”.
Other notable projects of urbanlab Yerevan are the Analysis and Development of the Urban Planning Documentation System and Analysis and Development Program for Legislative Basis of the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments, which were realized with the help of Counterpart International Armenia NGO and presented widely to stakeholders of the field.
urbanlab Yerevan also implemented self-initiated experimental projects, the results and data of which have been in circulation among the interested parties. Notably, the Revitalization of Kond District in Yerevan, the Alternative Avenue and the Folding Points of Yerevan. With these projects urbanlab Yerevan attempts tackling urban planning issues in Yerevan through an alternative perspective.
As part of raising awareness for the value and condition of Kond district of Yerevan, urbanlab Yerevan organizes tours of the district several times a year, which prove to be successful.
Members of urbanlab have also acted as local consulting partners of Viva East Partnership program.
Advocacy and education
Since establishment, sharing of experience, informal education and advocacy for democratization of urban planning process has been one of the major themes of the organization.
A series of lectures called Meet Architecture, organized by urbanlab Yerevan for 4 consecutive seasons (2012-2013) at the Union of Architects of Armenia, have been a success. The series host professionals of the field from Armenia and other countries, such as France, Germany, Austria, Romania, Iran and UK, and are attended by many students and interested individuals. All the lectures have been filmed and are published by Utopiana NGO on their online video channel.
The organization also teamed up with official holders of the local PechaKucha format and organized two presentation events with themes concerning urban planning and architectural issues.
urbanlab has also been a partner of different educational programs, such as Bio Diversity and Built Environment Summer Course held at American University of Armenia and City Hundretwasser workshop held at Cafesjian Museum of Art.