Cascade complex may soon get its final look:  French WILMOTTE &  ASSOCIES ARCHITECTES presents concept of project

ArmInfo. A favorite place for Yerevan residents and guests of the capital, the Cascade complex may  soon get its final look. The French WILMOTTE & ASSOCIES ARCHITECTES company developed the concept of the Cascade complex construction project. This project was presented to Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan  by famous French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, founder of WILMOTTE & ASSOCIES ARCHITECTES.

Somewhat earlier, he visited Yerevan to get acquainted with the  territory of the Cascade and the Noragyugh quarter.

According to the press service of the mayor's office, Avinyan was  also presented with a project regarding the Noragyugh quarter,  according to which this area is considered as the new center of the  capital.  "Noragyugh will combine the new and the traditional in the  urban environment, and will also solve problems that have accumulated  over decades," the source noted.

After the earthquake of 1988, the construction project of the  architectural and monumental complex "Cascade" was suspended. In  2002, the Municipality signed an agreement with the Gerard Cafesjian   an Armenian- American, which provided for the restoration of the  Complex. In the same year, by decision of the mayor of Yerevan, the  unfinished section of the Cascade complex was transferred to the  Cafesjian Museum foundation with ownership rights. Cafesjian's idea  was exceptional: he intended to improve the area, introduce  escalators and use the center as a cultural one. In 2009 the  landscaping was completed and the Arts Center was opened, but the  Cascade was still unfinished. Today, the area rising from the Cascade  to Azatutyan Avenue is in an abandoned state. The main reason is the  death of a benefactor. 

Notably, WILMOTTE & ASSOCIES ARCHITECTES was founded in 1975 and as  of today it  has 220 employees and 5 offices: in Paris, Nice, London,  Venice and Seoul. -sh- benefactor