ArmInfo.Armenia's construction industry is rapidly developing, but the sector has become a business. Vahan Soghoyan, chief architect of Cadastral GMC, expressed this opinion in an interview with an ArmInfo correspondent on the sidelines of the "CAUCASUS: CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION EXPO 2026" exhibition.
He assessed the construction boom as generally positive, but noted that, in addition to the commercial component, construction also contains an element of creativity and imaginative thought, which is the responsibility of architects.
"In the classical sense, architecture is an art that deals, among other things, with aesthetics, beauty, and harmony. However, this industry has also become largely commercialized, and from this perspective, I can say that signs of stagnation are evident," Soghoyan noted.
Evaluating most buildings in the capital, he noted a lack of creative thinking. The architect believes there's no one to blame for this trend. Businesses, driven by profit, take on large-scale projects and demand architects complete the tasks assigned to them within tight deadlines. Speaking about the situation in the context of his company, Soghoyan noted that clients often dictate their terms, but their task is to convince them of the need for a professional and balanced approach. "We're trying to find a golden mean," he emphasized.
Furthermore, the architect noted the risks of the construction boom in the country, given Armenia's location in a seismic zone. "Previously, buildings higher than 15 stories were not built in the country. Now we see 30-story buildings. This already speaks to the sale of plots and spaces. But that's what business requires. "People have a plot of land and should get the maximum income from it," he said. However, he did not express any particular concerns on this matter, citing Armenia's strong school of designers and engineers.
Cadastral GMC was founded in 2020 and provides cadastral surveys, geodetic work, architectural design, construction, interior design, interior finishing, and other services. The company carries out construction projects in Armenia and has clients and design partners in Russia and the United States.
More than 70 organizations from Armenia, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Estonia, and Iran attended the 22nd international specialized exhibition "CAUCASUS: CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION EXPO 2026."
