Varazdat Harutyunyan produced over 40 books and more than 800 articles during a career that spanned seven decades of architectural theory and historical research. Born in Van in 1909 within the Ottoman Empire, his life took him from regional upheaval to a long tenure as a prominent academic and architectural historian in Yerevan, Armenia.
Academic Foundation and Early Years
Harutyunyan moved from the Ottoman Empire into the Russian Empire following the Armenian genocide, settling eventually in Yerevan. He received his formal training at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, where he studied from 1931 until 1937. Upon graduation, he joined the staff of the same institution, marking the beginning of a career dedicated to both teaching and scholarly investigation.
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Specializing in the history and theory of architecture, Harutyunyan earned a Doktor Nauk degree in his field. He focused extensively on Armenian architecture, establishing himself as a primary authority on the subject. His academic progression led him to the position of professor of history in 1964. By 1996, he was elected an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, a position he held alongside his role within the Armenian Union of Architects and his presidency of the Society for Protection of Historical Monuments.
Public Recognition and Legacy
The breadth of Harutyunyan's work earned him numerous official state decorations. His awards included the Order of the Red Banner of Labour in 1981, as well as the Order of the Badge of Honour, which he received in both 1953 and 1966. He was also honored with the Marshal Bagramyan medal in 1997 and the Medal of Anania Shirakatsi. He held the title of honorary citizen of Yerevan before his death in 2008 at the age of 99, and he is interred at the Tokhmakh cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1909, Van
- Died: 2008, Yerevan
- Education: National Polytechnic University of Armenia, 1931-1937
- Fields: Architecture, Art history, Architectural theory
- Notable Membership: National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
- Notable Award: Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1981)
- Languages: Armenian, Russian
- Burial place: Tokhmakh cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the primary focus of Varazdat Harutyunyan's academic writing?
He authored over 40 books and 800 articles primarily centered on the history and theory of Armenian architecture.
What was his academic rank at the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia?
He was elected an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia in 1996.
Achievements
- Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"
- Order of the Badge of Honour
- Medal "For Labour Valour"
- Trained at National Polytechnic University of Armenia