Revival conception of Shoushi fortress

Taking into consideration the basic fact i.e. restoration of Shoushi fortress has some financial and social problems;  Shoushi  Foundation suggests the following conceptions for revival of the ancient city to Armenian, Kharabagh and abroad society. Keeping in view:  It s impossible to secure the city s vitality economically and democratically without an effective role.  It s impossible to carry out the project without the pan-Armenians serious approach to the idea of the city revival.
  As in Artsakh war of liberation Shoushi was the symbol of the Armenian greatest victory, because of this qualification it can attract the Armenian s attention.
   Without the role of pan-Armenian cultural and tourist centre, the city can t obtain developed social life and the population s life-ensure subdivisions.
  The citys renaissance can be realized only by putting into practice the Shoushi fortress and the environmental research project.
 Shoushi  Foundation suggests the project and idea of its revival as a pan-Armenian cultural and tourist centre which will ensure its activities including human and financial resources for longtime perspective.

Copyright (C) 2006 by Bakour Karapetyan Copyright (C) 2006 by Bakour Karapetyan

This idea assumes as a basis for carrying about the fortress initial 5
zones periodic projects using maximum historical architectural
inheritance. According to Foundation experts  intention this project s
realization should revive the city s vitality for supporting the
population with working places and sources for housing construction. These
5 zones will compose the kernel of the old Shoushi around which will gross
and prosper the city.

No 1st zone involves the tourist   hotel complex. It stretches from
Jraberd wall involving the old citadel, historical garden,  Khan s
daughter  house, eastern bath-house and other buildings.   The complex
will have all necessary conditions for relax and entertainment and will
serve tourists visited to NKR. This zone will bring a great amount of
financial sources to republican and public budget and will turn into an
attractive business for investors. This zone, besides hotels, includes
also public constructions.

No 2nd zone is the Cultural centre. It includes the Tarkhanyan
caravanserai, market, and a number of houses as well as the millionaire
Tarumyan house, where approximately 1.5 year has lived the supreme Eprem
patriarch of all Armenians and Nerses Ashtarakeci who has been a guest
here. It is envisaged to install a complex for concerts and conferences in
the middle of the caravanserai and market, which will attracts the
intellectual s attention, will also promote social-cultural enlivening and
Shoushi will become cultural centre.

The 3rd zone involves academy which includes the old cultural institution
and stadium. After having reconstructed Mariamay gymnasium, the Zhamharyan
house and hospital, it s planned to found contemporary university complex
with hostels and sport constructions where can be held pan-Armenian
competitions. The complex later can turn into the Artsakh State
University, where can study either the Armenian and Diaspora students.

No 4th zone involves the Hunot gorge and Jdrduz which is basically the
continuation of the first zone. Here making more suitable conditions for
relax and enjoyment as well as staying overnights, the gorge with the
nature s miracles will be more attractive for the tourists.

No 5th zone is the spiritual centre which stretches from Ghazanchetsoc
temple up to the old resting place, the Aghvan church s historical museum
and other religious and cult buildings. Locating as spiritual centre
Shoushi will become a unique place of all Armenians contributing tourist
increase.

The Restoration of the fortress historical area i.e. the Agulecoc Street
will complete the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th zones which will join together
these four zones. The rest historical streets will be restored in near
future which will have the shape of house buildings.

In the sphere of scientific research  Shoushi  Foundation s activities has
always been observed and examined by the experts and professors already
involved in this project, so they have discovered and set up the city s
revival conceptions. Without the Shoushi historical inheritance s
preliminary deeply researches it s strongly inadmissible worker s
interference in further reconstruction.

According above mentioned, the Foundation sets up the following activities:
a) The extension of the Shoushi historical-cultural inheritance s and
scientific researches.
b) The preparation of appropriate documents for the maintenance of the
city s historical-architectural inheritance for governor s decision.
c) The preparation of project suggestions for the city s reconstruction.
d) The formation of sponsorship.

For putting into practice the activities mentioned above the Foundation
stresses following nine primary plans:


1. The list formation of the fortress and surrounding monuments as well as
photographing, drawing a map.
2. The realization of houses and buildings architectural measurements.
3. The projection of architectural monuments in preserving zones.
4. The realization of five zones suggested in the frame of projects in
international open competition, due to which the city will reborn.
5. The foundation of Shoushi Archive as well as collection of archive
documents.
6. The investigation and publication of discovered tombs, Cyclopean
castle, citadel, fortress-cave s ancient excavation around Shoushi.
7. The investigation and declaration of lithographic inheritance around
Shoushi.
8. The investigation of caves located in fortress and around it.
9. The foundation of museum complex.
a) National museum of photography (Old photos collection from Diaspora,
Armenian and NKR).
b) An electronic museum of photo chronicles of the 20th century local wars
(the centre of war researches and prevention).
10. Preaching of Shoushi appropriate character.

The realization of conceptions has been started in 2004, summer after
having listed the fortress of Shoushi and about 525 monuments around
Shoushi.

Bakur Karapetyan is the director of the Shoushi cultural inheritance project.


 
 

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