Measuring the St. Thaddeus Monastery in the Artaz District of Iran during 1968 served as the catalyst for a decades-long career dedicated to the study and preservation of historical structures. Armen Hakhnazarian balanced a professional life in Germany and Iran as an architect, researcher, and educator focused on documenting Armenian architectural heritage.
Academic and Professional Development
Born in Tehran in 1941, Hakhnazarian completed his early education at the Kooshesh Davtian School before moving to Germany. He earned a doctorate in architecture from RWTH Aachen University in 1969, followed by a doctorate in technical sciences in 1973. While building a career as an architect, he founded the Monit Architectural Company in Tehran in 1974. He later joined the faculty at Aachen University in 1983, where he taught urban planning for many years.
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In 1969, he established the Research on Armenian Architecture NGO in Aachen, which he later officially registered in 1982. The organization gained formal recognition in the United States in 1996 and in Armenia in 1998. During the 1970s, he conducted extensive field research through six trips to Western Armenia. Despite being declared persona non grata and barred from further travel to that region, he continued to manage documentation projects through other researchers until his death in 2009.
Architectural Renovations
Hakhnazarian contributed to the restoration and upkeep of numerous religious and historical sites. His portfolio included work on the St. Sargis Church and Saint George Church in Tehran, as well as the St. Thaddeus Monastery in Maku. He also participated in projects involving the Saghmosavank Monastery in Armenia, the Dadivank Monastic Complex, and historical residences within the Kesab District of Syria.
Publications and Recognition
His scholarly output included seven volumes of microfilms published between 1983 and 1989 and several books, including A Review of Armenian Architecture and specific studies on the annihilation of the Armenian cemetery in Jugha. Toward the end of his life, he received several honors, including the Order of Honour of the National Assembly of Armenia in 2008 and the Hakob Meghapart Medal in 2009.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 May 1941, Tehran
- Died: 19 February 2009, Aachen
- Citizenship: Germany, Iran
- Education: RWTH Aachen University
- Founder: Research on Armenian Architecture
- Spouse: Margrit Buenemann
- Daughters: Tallinn, Shahriz
- Final burial location: Artashavan Village, Armenia and Aachen, Germany
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of the Research on Armenian Architecture organization?
The organization focused on documenting, researching, and preserving Armenian historical buildings and monuments across multiple countries.
Where did Armen Hakhnazarian teach?
He taught in the Faculty of Urban Planning at Aachen University in Germany, starting in 1983.
