NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIA

Mary Chalikian, a first-year Master’s degree student at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia  has been interested in military art since the school bench, believing that every citizen should be interested in army concerns and contribute to army establishment. As a student and a future architect at the National University of Architecture and Construction Mary’s hobby matured day-by-day in her mind and after long studies and familiarizing herself with the issues of military life, military psychology and institutions, and cooperating with the officers of the Military Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan, Merry nurtured an unprecedented project as her brainchild.

She designed a military institute area that was an innovative approach and quite favorable both in the terms of strategic and geographic positions. “Serious difficulties arose during the investigation process. The subject was almost not studied before me, literature sources were missing, and there were no  similar attempts done before me. Of course, I believe, if there is a problem, then there is a solution. My supervisor Anahit Vardanyan’s contribution was invaluable for me. Support from the Chief of the Military Institute after V. Sargsyan General-Major Armen Ghahramanyan and lieutenant colonel Grigor Hanesoghlyan was truly great”.

The territory of the military institute designed by Mary Chalikyan is located in the Lori region of Armenia, near Bazum village, in the place of the former military base. The Military University is a complex consisting of buildings and zones of various purposes, including  checkpoints, grove of honors dedicated to the martyred freshmen of the Military University, physical education square, academic building, a library, a health post, cafeteria, dormitory buildings, sports facilities and a sporting campus, motorhomes,  a parking lot and warehouses of various significance. Since the Armenian Armed Forces have been formed after the Artsakh War, Mary considered it remarkable to include a symbolic, victorious arch in the educational institution. In her project one side of the arch leans оn the footing of the academic building where the University students should study, while the other side of the arch is joined to the foundation of the military officers’ administrative building.

“I defended my project with honors, and basically, the opinions were positive. But, of course, when your project is not just an academic assignment for you, the significance of opinions and feedback of professionals changes. Certainly, the verdict of the assessment committee is very important to me, as my project was assessed by the recongnized professionals of the field. Of course, it was also important to learn about the military officers’ opinion to whom my work and one year of my academic life were dedicated’’. 

What will be the future of the project  is yet unknown. Despite many positive opinions and appreciation words, Mary hopes that her project will turn into a real construction. By then, Mary has  one wish for all defenders of the Homeland, her soldier-brother including. She wishes all the soldiers wealthy and peaceful military service.