urbanlab (sometimes also urbanlab_am and/or urbanlab.am) is a Yerevan-based independent urban think-do-share lab, aimed to promote democratization of urban landscape toward sustainable development in its broader understanding.
Established by some former activists fighting for historic preservation, urbanlab (previously urbanlab Yerevan) is a multi-disciplinary platform enabling the organization to operate in a diverse range of activities of self-initiated and/or commissioned research, content creation for public and professional reference, consultation, management and execution of community involvement in urban environmental cultural policy projects, as well as alternative and non-formal educational activities. The creation of urbanlab was announced on 8 November 2011 during a Pecha-Kucha Night Yerevan event by the urbanlab founder Sarhat Petrosyan.
On 29 December 2011 urbanlab Yerevan – Institute for Democratization of Urban Planning was registered. During 2016 urbanlab Yerevan non-governmental organization merged with Boghossian Gardens Beneficiary Foundation and since January 2017 urbanlab officially acts as urbanlab Social-Cultural Foundation.
Background
In February 2010, by the decision of the Government of Armenia, the Open-Air Hall of Moscow Cinema was removed from the State List of Cultural and Historical Immobile Heritage of Armenia, paving way for its demolition and the rebuilding of Saint Paul-Peter church which used to stand there until early 20th century.
Once again teaming up with activists, urbanlab founders started a successful campaign for saving the cinema hall from destruction, employing social networks on Facebook and rallying for signatures, collecting over 23’000. Until today Moscow Cinema Open-Air Hall is standing.
“This has been the first case in the post-Soviet history of Yerevan where a major construction project was halted because of public opposition. As such it stood in stark contrast to earlier construction projects that were carried out during the 2000s, even though there had been both public criticism and civic campaigns directed against these projects as well,” historian Mikayel Zolyan states in his paper “Armenia’s Facebook Generation: Social networks and civic activism in Armenia” published by the University of California, Berkeley.
Activities and projects
Research and consultancy
urbanlab realizes research and consults local communities and various stakeholders of urban planning, who are eager “to improve the built environment”.
Some notable projects of urbanlab are the Analysis and Development of the Urban Planning Documentation System and Analysis and Development Program for Legislative Basis of the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments, realized with the support of Counterpart International Armenia and the USAID presented widely to stakeholders of the field.
Among other notable projects of urbanlab are: Independent Landscape ReThink Metsamor Engage Vanadzor Folding Points of Yerevan
urbanlab founder Sarhat Petrosyan also curated the Pavilion of Armenia at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. During the exhibition, the launch of a unique landscape mapping laboratory of independent Armenia was announced. The project focuses on the study and reinterpretation of spatial transformations and its variations from 1991 to present day. The project was implemented from 2015 to 2016, exhibited in Holy Cross Church of the Armenian Mekhitarist Congregation located at Calle dei Armeni in Venice․ The Independent Landscape pavilion presented five different parts and researches: People’s Square, Visiting Post-Earthquake Gyumri, Shrinking Cemeteries, Expanded Housing, ReThink Metsamor. Each project had its unique visualization, created by different artists.
ReThink Metsamor is one of the researches presented at the pavilion and aims to establish a collaborative research by planners and visual artists on urban “history” of singular example of Soviet modernism – Metsamor town and Nuclear Power Plant located in the area (both built in 1970s) and also post-Soviet development of the urban environment, with a special focus on social obstacles caused by environmental fears and challenges.
With the support of European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), urbanlab initiated Engage Vanadzor, a project aimed to promote re-evaluation of Armenia’s third largest city, Vanadzor’s modern tangible and intangible heritage- rock music and to advocate its preservation through community engagement.