Republic Square, Yerevan

Republic Square
The History Museum and the National Gallery (left) and the Government House (right) in Republic Square as seen at night, 2013
Former name(s)Lenin Square (1940–1990)[1]
Maintained byYerevan Municipality
Area3 hectares (30,000 m2)[1]
LocationKentron, Yerevan, Armenia
Nearest metro stationRepublic Square
Construction
Construction start1926[2][3][4]
Completion1977[2]
Other
DesignerAlexander Tamanian (square design); surrounding buildings: Alexander Tamanian, Gevorg Tamanian, Mark Grigorian, Eduard Sarapian, Rafayel Israyelian, Samvel Safarian, Varazdat Arevshatian[5]

Republic Square (Armenian: Հանրապետության հրապարակ, Hanrapetut′yan hraparak, known locally as Hraparak, "the square")[6][7] is the central town square in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It consists of two sections: an oval roundabout and a trapezoid-shaped section which contains a pool with musical fountains. The square is surrounded by five major buildings built in pink and yellow tuff in the neoclassical style with extensive use of Armenian motifs.[8][9] This architectural ensemble includes the Government House, the History Museum and the National Gallery, Armenia Marriott Hotel and two buildings that formerly housed the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport and Communications. The square was originally designed by Alexander Tamanian in 1924.[10][5] The construction of most of the buildings was completed by the 1950s; the last building—the National Gallery—was completed in 1977.[2]

During the Soviet period it was called Lenin Square and a statue of Vladimir Lenin stood at the square. Soviet parades and celebrations were held twice (originally thrice) a year until 1988. After Armenia's independence, Lenin's statue was removed and the square was renamed.[11] It has been described as Yerevan's "architectural highlight"[12] and the city's "most outstanding architectural ensemble".[13] As Armenia's and the city's "most important civic space",[14] Republic Square was the main site of demonstrations during the 2018 Velvet Revolution.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference concise was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference arlis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Tigranian 1985, p. 25.
  4. ^ Avetisyan 1979, p. 80.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Dolukhanyan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Pechakjian, Pauline (28 April 2016). "The 10 Best Hotels & Inns in Yerevan, Armenia". theculturetrip.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2016. ...Republic Square, referred to by locals as the Hraparak...
  7. ^ "De-Sovietized Streets". Armenian International Magazine: 17. September 2001. The street just off Hraparak...
  8. ^ Louis, Victor E.; Louis, Jennifer M. (1987). Louis motorist's guide to the Soviet Union. Pergamon Press. p. 517. ISBN 9780080318172. The centre of Erevan is Lenin Square; it was built as an architectural whole using the Armenian national style of architecture.
  9. ^ Gregorian, Vartan (2008). The Road to Home: My Life and Times. Simon and Schuster. p. 178. ISBN 9781439129111. Buildings around the square were designed to reflect some features of ancient Armenian architecture.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference gov.am was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Schmemann, Serge (8 July 1992). "In the Caucasus, Ancient Blood Feuds Threaten to Engulf 2 New Republics". The New York Times. On the former Lenin Square, now Republic Square, the statue of Lenin is gone and his pedestal is being prepared for demolition.
  12. ^ Travel to the USSR (92–103): iii. 1983. The city's architectural highlight is Lenin Square, with its statue of Lenin, Government House, the Armenia Hotel, the picture gallery and other buildings. The main streets branch out from Lenin Square.
  13. ^ Gross, Eugenie Harris; Gross, Jeffrey (1977). The Soviet Union: a guide for travellers. J. Murray. p. 255. Lenin Square, at the center of the city, contains the most outstanding architectural ensemble in Yerevan. The buildings surrounding the square express a single architectural concept.
  14. ^ Ter-Ghazaryan 2013, p. 584.