History

Even today Lovers’ Park Yerevan is often called Pushkin Park. In 1949, it was named after the renowned Russian poet Alexander Pushkin on the poet’s 150th birth anniversary by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. Later in 1970, the park alongside the avenue it stands on (currently Marshal Baghramyan Avenue), were named “Barekamutyun” (Comradeship) as a tribute to friendship of all Soviet Union member nations.

In 1995, following the Independence of the Republic of Armenia, by the decision of the presidency of Yerevan City Council representatives, the park was renamed “Lovers’ Park”. Notably, the adjacent Demirtchyan Street was previously dubbed “Lovers’ Street”. Hence the choice of the name suggests that the park was a favorite rendez-vous spot for many couples.

The park is situated in the north of what was once the district of Kozern. During the 18th century, it was on the outskirts of Yerevan and was known for its medieval cemetery and the chapel. The old name of this area – Kozern Gardens – indicates that some of the park trees still standing tall today were planted back in the 18th century.

Later, during the years of the First Republic of Armenia, following the reconstruction of Yerevan according to Alexander Tamanyan’s plan, this area was considered a suburb of the capital. After World War II, Barekamutyun (present-day Marshal Baghramian) Avenue was constructed with the city substantially developing.
The avenue became home to the buildings of the National Assembly (then the Central Committee of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic Communist Party; architect M. Grigorian), the Presidential Palace (then the Supreme Council of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; architect M. Grigorian), the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (architect S. Safarian), and the American University of Armenia (then the Palace of Congresses for Political Studies; architect M. Grigorian).

In 1981, with the dynamic development of Yerevan, Marshal Baghramyan metro station was built (architects S. Knteghtsian and A. Zurabian), which is one of the iconic examples of modern architecture in Yerevan.

Following the years of Armenia’s Independence, when the country suffered energy and economic crisis, and war in Artsakh, many of the trees in the capital were cut by residents to survive cold winters, which had detrimental consequences.
The century-old park trees, however, miraculously stood strong.

In 2005, benefactor Albert Boghossian initiated the reconstruction of the park, which was renovated in the frames of the Boghossian Gardens Project.

Background

The landscaping and design project of Lovers’ Park started in 2006. The design for the reconstruction of the new Lovers’ Park was conceived by Pierre Rambach, a well-known landscape architect from Switzerland, author of many books and articles on Japanese and Oriental gardens. After a year’s research the renowned architect created the sketch plan which was approved by the Municipality of Yerevan.  The plan reflects the basic principles of traditional oriental gardens. This is a haven of nature in a highly urbanized city with a peculiar inhabitable environment conceived by Mr. Rambach.

Lovers’ Park covers an area of 1.6 hectares (16’419 square meter/176’732 square feet). An artificial lake with two islands is on the eastern side of the park. One of the islands serves as a stage (100 square meters/1’076 square feet) for the 200-seat amphitheater opposite the lake. Additional 200 seats are in the area adjacent to the stage.
There are two waterfalls in the park, cascading into rivulets and flowing into the large lake.

The park's Achajour café is a favorite pastime hub for Yerevan residents.

The park is designed considering the needs of people with disabilities. There are no steps in the park, enabling easy access for wheelchair users. The park’s public toilet has a special cubicle for wheelchairs.

The best lighting specialists have worked in the park. Apart from general lighting throughout the park, there is decorative lighting to highlight stone compositions and sculptures. Four sculptures are installed in the park: Armenuhi by Hripsime Simonyan; the statue of Gevorg Emin by Ashot Aramyan, Le Coeur d'obsidienne (Obsidian Heart) by Jean-Michel Othoniel and the Trio Elephants by Nadim Karam.

The main paths in the park are tiled with natural stones. The park is irrigated both manually and automatically. The modern computerized automatic irrigation system is self-regulating with a special program which determines the amount of water needed in different segments of the park, taking into consideration weather conditions, humidity and rainfall.

The park is an exemplary model of public leisure area in our city where people of all ages can fully relax and enjoy some peace.
 

The Designer

Pierre Rambach was born in Paris in 1925. He graduated from Paris Fine Arts School (DPLG), Department of Architecture. He furthered his studies in Switzerland, India and Japan where he followed Masuda Tomoya’s school of architecture at Kyoto University.

In 1968 he moved to Switzerland where, for many years, he was architect at the Swissair Company. In Switzerland Rambach created numerous Japanese-style gardens including the garden of the Oriental Arts Museum in Geneva in 2004.Pierre Rambach authored and translated numerous books on Japanese traditional arts with a special focus on architecture and gardens.

In 1973, he published the French translation of the Sakutei-ki, the oldest Japanese book on gardening written in 1070. The Secret Book on Japanese Gardens (Le Livre Secret des Jardins Japonais) was the first book illustrating the principles of Japanese gardening and stone composition in relation to other traditional arts such as ceramics, calligraphy, painting, etc.

Pierre and Susanne Rambach are authors of "Garden of Longevity in China and Japan", published in 1987 by Skira-Rizzoli, New-York. In 2005 they also published an interactive CD-ROM about the role of stones in Japanese gardens.

In 2005, Pierre Rambach started working on the Lovers’ Park Yerevan Landscaping and Design Project.Pierre Rambach passed away in 2013. Today, thanks to the efforts of the architect, Lovers’ Park Yerevan is the first and as yet the only Japanese garden in Armenia.