Armenian National Theater is located in the building of Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema (YSITC). The theater was founded in 1991, received its state status in 2003, and though it has not got its own space, the theater’s style is unique, diverse, innovative and different. But the own stage gives each team greater creative freedom and opportunities. The foundation ceremony of the National Theater Building took place on 23rd of March this year. The building is still under construction and is likely to be commissioned in autumn 2020. The new theater is now built on 955 m2 area adjacent to YSITC. The developer and the investor of the National Theater building is “GM Developer” Ltd, and the architect is Isahak Nersisyan. According to the new design the National Theater Building will have a 290-seat hall. The total area of the theater building is 1800 m2. According to Isahak Nersisyan, the small space and the limited financial contribution did not allow to design a theater to suit the scale and the requirements of classical theaters but in general they got a building with all the necessary components for a theatrical activity. Like all theaters the National theater on its first floor will have a lobby, a cloakroom, lavatories, canteen, office space, rehearsal room, requisite warehouses, office access. The theater will also have a workshop for making decorations and some space is allocated at the back of the building for making larger props. An elevator is to be installed to move them to the second floor. By central staircase the audience will get on the second floor: the small lobby, actors’ rooms and the theater hall. The hall will be built in a traditional way, with a stage box 12 m high, stage lounges, professional lighting. The theater building is adapted for people with mobility problems: it will have an elevator, and for wheelchair spectators there will be special places in the hall. The entrance to the theater will be angular, glazed. The building is a little complicated, that is why in the design of the facade, no outstanding architectural solutions could be given. That is why a more restrained modern dynamic solution with irregular openings was chosen. The preference in designing the interior will be given to modern solutions. But the main feature of the theater will be the permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the popular artist Sos Sargsyan.

The building of Leninakan railroaders’ Palace of Culture, which was later renamed to Sevyan Cultural Center, was built in 1926 and started to function in 1929. After the earthquake in 1988 this unique building with its exclusive style, original and interior design, covered with frescoes, functioned for two more years, and then there was a big fire, after which the building gradually became dilapidated and filled with garbage. There were many reconstruction projects for this building which, unfortunately, are still pending. This year the issue of this unique cultural center was finally resolved. A memorandum was signed between the Ballet 20-21 Foundation and the Municipality of Gyumri, according to which the Sevyan Center will be reconstructed and will function in a more innovative and multi-profile format, a vivid proof of which is the Kharatyan Experimental Art Center, that will function in this building. The design project has started as a sub-grant within the framework of Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Eurasia Partnership Foundation's CS Bridge Programme, financed by European Union. The former building with its adjacent area (about 1668 m2) was provided to the fund gratuitously for 99 years. The municipality is responsible for exempting the territory from illicit buildings and kiosks before the start of the construction works, which will begin in September 2020 and will last 2 years. Until then, the future design project will be elaborated by Canadian architect of Armenian origin Azat Shishmanyan from architectural studio NEUF, Canada, together with Storaket architectural studio. Azat Shishmanyan plans to keep the facade, walls and arches and Ferdinand Manukyan's "Sasun Dance" mosaic in his design project, while the innovative solutions will be inside the building. According to the preliminary concept, two floors will be restored with about 3200m2 area, and according to architectural solution the third floor will be added in one part of the building. The center will be multifunctional, it will have a two-stages hall for 500 people, three studios, dressing rooms, a conference room, a library, an exhibition room, café and a souvenire store. The adjacent garden will also be improved. The structure of the center will enable the passersby to see what's going on inside and feel the creative mood of the architectural solution. A. Shishmanyan in his design considers the dialogue between the old and the new. Kharatyan Experimental Arts Center, which will function in this building, will welcome about 120 students. There are already arrangements with Armenian and foreign representatives of dance art, who will teach in the center. According to Shishmanyan each building must be a source of inspiration, regardless of its targeted function, even if it is a hospital.

The construction of the cultural center and museum dedicated to the outstanding Armenian writer Hrant Matevosyan has been going on for more than two years. The building is located in the center of Armenian capital Yerevan, on Abovyan street. It can become one of the most important cultural landmarks of the capital, completely transferring the visitors to the “writer’s environment”. David Matevosyan, the son of the writer, says that they initially abandoned the idea of a house museum. Instead, they intend to create a cultural center and museum, which would represent the literary heritage of Matevosyan to its visitors in the most lively and harmonious way. “The concept of a house museum in Armenia and in other countries becomes a “dead” idea if it enclosed within the framework of only housing concept. The museum should be endowed with functions, that is, it should make this environment live," said Davit Matevosyan. Matevosyan's Environment with Modern Solutions “According to the initial design, the center consists of three floors, as well as a basement floor. Now the third floor was removed from the project, but it was promised to return it,” said Davit Matevosyan, stressing that otherwise the integrity of the center will not be ensured. In the basement floor there will be an auditorium for various events, including performances, film shows, etc. The ground floor designed for the main exhibition hall. "A writing desk, a typewriter, clothes, books and other personal staff belonging to writer will be presented in the form of a special exhibition. Now the exposition project is being formed, but financial resources are needed. It is necessary to solve the issues of interactive, sound and light presentations for multigenre Matevosyan’s texts, and we will do it," Davit Matevosyan said. Half of the second floor will also serve as an exhibition hall. "On the third floor, the following is envisaged: a hall for temporary exhibitions, that is, an environment where it will be possible to organize small exhibitions, book presentations, readings, meetings with writers. The other half is intended to be used as a dwelling-workshop for those guests who want to study writer’s heritage." "Throughout the world, for decades, there are international programs that allow people engaged in arts to visit different countries and do their creative work. For example, our center can provide an opportunity to specialists in literature or translators to live here and study the art of the writer." A botanical garden identical to the Lori region nature and zones with toponyms of the Matovosian’s “world” will be included in the park improvement works. Davit Matevosyan finds it difficult to say when the center will open its doors to visitors. At the moment the construction of the second floor of the building is completed. General contractor of the construction is "Horizon-95" and the project financed by the Armenian government.

A stunning home on the French Riviera that was once owned by Edith Piaf is on the market for almost US$ 5.25 million. She bought the four-bedroom property in Grasse on the French Riviera in the 1950s and lived there until her death from liver cancer in 1963, at the age of 47. The refurbished property on the south east coast of France is surrounded by countryside, being between the two pretty villages of Mougins and Valbonne. The grounds are extensive and include a tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool and a pool house. In addition, there are three separate guest suites and a two-bedroom guardian's cottage. The landscaped gardens include a lawn area with Mediterranean shrubs, mature trees and enough space for a helicopter to land. Inside of the property, there is a stone archway separating the kitchen and dining room, as well as exposed stone walls in the living area. There is pretty floor tiling throughout much of the house, with wooden ceiling beams and large doors opening out to the garden. Carlton International, the estate agents handling the sale, said: 'The property makes the perfect family home, ideal for entertaining.' It added: 'This was the former home of one of the most famous, internationally renowned french singers of the twentieth century. 'It is a stunning property in the heart of the countryside, enjoying complete quiet.' And buying agent Henry Pryor said: 'Properties with this history are always going to create a stir, especially on the French Riviera. 'The agent's problem won't be getting someone to view it, but holding back the tour buses who would like to see it.

The Sagrada Familia is set to become the tallest religious building in Europe when the latest stage in its decades-long construction - the raising of six new towers - is complete. The Antoni Gaudi-designed cathedral, which already dominates the Barcelona skyline, will take the mantle from the Ulm Minster in Germany when the highest of its towers is in place. The Tower of Jesus Christ will be 172.5 meters tall, according to the cathedral's chief architect, Jordi Fauli, who announced that his aim was to have the new towers in place by 2026 - the centenary of Gaudi's death. In what is one of the longest-running construction projects undertaken, the foundation stones of the Sagrada Familia were first laid 133 years ago in 1882. Mr Fauli, who became the chief architect in 2012, declined to give an absolute date for the building's eventual completion. "It's difficult to predict but we can say that it will be completed by 2030, 2032," he said. He said that about 70 per cent of the construction was completed. In March of this year the cathedral chief architect announced that 3D printers 3D models of the building, following Gaudi's designs. The announcement coincided with the beginning of the final phase of raising the six towers. The Tower of Jesus Christ will be crowned by a cross at its highest point, while the other five towers are dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the four apostles. The main tower is designed to rise above the cathedral's central chamber, which until 15 years ago did not even have a roof. Only one of the facades was completed by the time of Gaudi's death in 1926. St Peter's Basilica in Rome will remain the tallest internal religious structure in Europe. The Sagrada Familia has survived the Spanish Civil War, the Franco dictatorship and the meltdown of the Spanish economy during the recent debt crisis. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral annually attracts more than 3.2 million visitors, who help to pay for the annual construction budget of US$ 28 million.