SWA International
Master Plan Spitak, Armenia
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.
Revitalization of the destroyed city
On September 7, 1988, an earthquake destroyed several cities in Armenia and killed thousands of people.
In Spitak alone, a town directly above one of the hypocentres, approximately 90% of the 20,000-strong population died.
The earthquake is not the first of this magnitude and, if experts are to be believed, it will not be the last either.
At the same time, Armenia is politically highly sensitive. The solution for reconstruction cannot therefore be achieved through standardized Russian rapid construction methods, but rather, in the context of glasnost and perestroika, requires a new concept that takes into account the Armenian population.
As architects, there is only one real way for us to help: by eliminating the damage caused, not just in a technical sense, but by creating a new, designed environment.
Ecological aspect
The damage caused by the earthquake was further exacerbated by poor construction and centralized industrial facilities. Due to poor workmanship and inadequate bracing, one of the industrial buildings collapsed, killing 600 people. This was also due to the fact that a power plant is located nearby, which is said to have sustained severe damage in the earthquake. To prevent a recurrence, a concept was developed based on the sensible use of the four elements: fire, water, earth, and air:
Thus, different systems were developed to meet the different requirements, placing both the energy and water balance of the future Spitak in a circular system between nature and humans.
Energy systems
Since winds constantly blow along the mountainside on the north side of the city, we organized a chain of wind turbines along the mountain's edge. At the same time, a solar power plant is rising on a hill facing the sun.
Water systems
The water is channeled through underground mountain streams to individual households, where it is diverted to micro-sewage treatment plants and removed from the sewage by plants. From there, it flows via a stream to another water treatment plant, which it passes through before flowing into the river in the valley.