Armenian Genocide Museum of America

[bell-the-cat]

The size of the site used for Papazian's design is bigger than that used by Martinez and Johnson. Papazian additionally uses the sites of another three properties that are further up the street behind the bank. Are these additional properties that were bought by Cafesjian to extend the museum site, and which the current "regime" no longer wishes to use?

[bell-the-cat]

Schematic floorplan. The design consists of three parts: "The Safe", housed within the original bank building, would house a museum about Armenian culture and life before the genocide; "The Tomb", a series of descending ramps in a spiral, would present the history of the genocide and its aftermath; "The Husk", a void carved out of the center of the building would act as a memorial to the dead and would only be visible to the visitor at the end of "The Tomb" section.

[bell-the-cat]

Freehand drawing of the interior ramping/structure of the cone-section.

[bell-the-cat]

Another exterior view.

[bell-the-cat]

Here are some drawings of Edgar Papazian's design.

[chinchilla]

Yeh, you have me convinced, Mr Martinez, a 19th century American neo-classical former-bank is indeed highly reminiscent of historic Armenian architecture!

What about the genocide monument (museum-institute) in Yerevan? Not exactly reminiscent of Armenian architecture, but I like its design.

[bell-the-cat]

I've got a book illustrating an architectural concept for the museum done by an architect named Edgar Papazian. I'll scan and post some pictures from it in a day or so.

[Hovik]

Bell, Please tell us how you really feel

I toured the site with Ross Vartian back in 2002. (That was when it was supposed to open in '05 or '06 - so much for that) I had high hopes for it, and would imagine over and over again what it could be like. All the delays and infighting and lawsuits have honestly left me with a sick feeling in my stomach. I hope they get through this, fire some people, hire the right people, and launch an outstanding project. I don't know if it'll happen but that's what I'm holding out for...

[bell-the-cat]

Cringingly amateurish is the only word to describe their video.

I bet the one thing they have never actually done is sat down and given some hard and intensive thought about what they want their "museum" to be for, what is should contain and represent, and who it will be for.

Come see the "genocide experience" visitors' center - buy your souvenir Turkish fez, scimitar, and menacing fake moustache!

Martinez and Johnson: commercial architects who have designed nothing of note, and (based on the comments of one of its partners) have zero understanding of anything! Yeh, you have me convinced, Mr Martinez, a 19th century American neo-classical former-bank is indeed highly reminiscent of historic Armenian architecture!

Though I can read something into their design. The yellow vertical element in the new-build part is surely meant to signify the lack of courage and absence of backbone in those responsible for this oncoming disaster.

[bell-the-cat]

Pathetic. Though could it be anything but pathetic?