HISTORICAL BUILDINGS
THE COMPLEX OF THE WINE-MAKING INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION “ARARAT”
State index: 1.6.7
1887-1910, architect: Mikhail
von der Nonne
1937-1961, architects: Rafael
Israelyan, Gevorg Kochar
Constructor: A. Martirosyan
1980, architect: Rafael
Israelyan,
Sculptor: Ara Harutyunyan
Located on the left elevated bank of the Hrazdan River
gorge, on the territory of the former Yerevan fortress, at 9 Argishti Street.
In 1877, the famous merchant and philanthropist Nerses
Tairyan began wine production on a plot of land he bought on the fortress
territory, and in 1887 - cognac production, which in a short time became the
industry leader. In 1887, Tairyan received financial support for the
construction of the factory building from his relative - the great Armenian
marine painter Hovhannes Aivazovsky. In 1899, due to export difficulties,
Tairyan leased the factory to one of the leaders of the Russian trade and
industry sector - the company “Nikolai Shustov and Sons”, which a year later
bought the factory and expanded it, creating a large production complex.
In 1887-1910, the Tairyan-Shustov winemaking complex
was built (architect Mikhail von der Nonne).
The oldest preserved structure on the factory
territory is the cellar (1877).
The main products were wine, vodka, and cognac, which
were exported to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Persia, Japan, European
countries, and were highly renowned. At international competitions, some of
them won gold and silver medals. At the beginning of the 20th century, the
company was granted the privilege of supplying cognac to the court of Tsar
Nicholas II. In the late 1910s, Shustov’s enterprise production accounted for
90% of all wine, cognac, and spirits produced in the Yerevan province.
In 1912, the complex, along with the buildings from
the Tairyan period, included more than twenty structures. Outside the factory,
there was a hydroelectric power plant that provided energy to the factory and
part of the city.
In 1920, the complex was nationalized, and in May
1921, it was renamed to the Yerevan “Ararat” Wine-Cognac-Vodka Combine (“Ararat
Trust” association), which included all wine and cognac factories of Soviet
Armenia.
In the 1930s, the construction of the cellar building
began on the site of the Sardar’s Palace. The construction took place in two
stages: in 1937 (architects Rafael Israelyan, Gevorg Kochar) and in 1961
(architect Rafael Israelyan, sculptor Ara Harutyunyan). The building, with its
flat roofs, had the appearance of a fortress wall rising above the rocks of the
Hrazdan gorge and reminded that the formidable Yerevan fortress was once
located here.
As a result of the 1948 reorganization, the Yerevan
Wine Combine and the Yerevan Cognac Factory were separated. The final
separation took place in 1953 when the construction of the new cognac factory
building was completed.
The complex was also reconstructed in 1980.
In 2002, the “Ararat” association complex was included
in the “Multi Group” concern owned by Gagik Tsarukyan, renovated, and equipped
with the latest technical means. Sloping roofs were added to the buildings.
The sculptures of the wine combine are dominated by
national themes, depicting episodes from Armenian fables.
The complex has an impressive architectural solution
and historical value.
“Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO
Yerevan Municipality