White Architecture of George GRIGORYANTS

George GRIGORYANTS: Unique antique agro-culture remains in Sevastopol. All Gerakleya Peninsula looked as an ancient settlement with its plots of arable land, i.e. chora (plantations). Every Chersones dweller had his plot of land which was adapted to vineyard generally. The land was favorably disposed to this. Limestone is the most favorable soil for viticulture. It was rectangular in plan usually. Greeks drew regular grid regardless of relief. Sevastopol locates in such geo plastic! Though all Greeks’ objects were portioned on grids.
The modern town absorbed all this structure, but some territories leave untouched, they are unique and valuable especially. Now, we nominate in UNESCO five of plots of Kersones chora as the most authentic, i.e. extant without any changes. The City’s development has not damaged it.

А+С: Did viticulture exist there during all this centuries?

George GRIGORYANTS: George GRIGORYANTS: Yes, viticulture was. But there was no construction there during two of centuries. All remained in primordial condition. Vineyard has own life period and vines were planted more all the time. But the most essential thing is excellent preservation of plots of arable land which consist of plantation’s stone walls. Now, plant there and …!
Moreover, every plot of land had a farmstead with house in it. If a medieval farmstead is more picturesque and has two of storey, but an antique farmstead is one storey building, absolutely blind on the outside. It’s bricked with ragged masonries. A signal fire lighted on the defensive tower in the corner. With accommodations, shed, altar, and the well. With plantation’s walls, vines, and other vegetation. But all is divided. All is terraced in accordance with relief. Plantation’s walls were terraced and this circumstance prevented landslide.
For example, plot No 9 is unique due to dimensions. This is a gift for humanity. And 150 hectares of land is a grate present! Whole farmstead, granary, water tanks, and paved floor remain. You can see this. Foreigners research it. Among of them are Israeli architect and professor of Texas Archeological University. Many specialists from the world excavate here for ones’ own account.
Authentic farmsteads were excavated along antique road which has 4.2 m of width and stretches from Round Bay to Kamyshovaya Bay. Gerakleya Peninsula is made into bars by such roads. The principal roads of town importance are wide ones (10 m of width). The rest of roads are narrow (4.2 m of width). One of such narrow roads crosses our building micro-district.

А+С: How it possible to save this unique archeological monument in the town area?

George GRIGORYANTS: Now, some of archeological territories are part of Omega building area. We discover farmsteads and antique road here. In Omega, we maintain and demonstrate archeological objects for the first time. Usually, the objects were destroyed at construction. We want to establish the National Archeological Park on the basis of this unique heritage and to include it into micro-district structure. But we want to maintain planning organization with antique plantation walls. Archeological area will be introduced into dwelling micro-district as green zone. The most valuable land will be maintained and cash assets will be planed for excavating. Before building beginning archeologists work on the plot of land. And constructional plans are corrected if archeologists find important things. For example, we moved street as a result of excavations of Evclid’s farmhouse. Archeologists found a brand of Evclid.
Objects’ conservation is the aim, but not restoration only. The objects will not have such valuable if we will penetrate thereto. At the first time our idea likes archeologists – they consented to make abandonment of farmhouse and to build objects in Khersones farmhouses style around it. It will be tavern or little museum with archeological exhibits which were found nearly.

А+С: Will you intend to erect sheds on top?

George GRIGORYANTS: We will loss the sun if we will cover on top. Color of this stones is unique one. This is very picturesque. It’s impossible to loss this color and tint.

А+С: Which kind of building forms Omega micro-district?

George GRIGORYANTS: The territory of Omega Bay is empty. The City came here with typical designing. In short time it was to have been near seacoast. Our task today is to stop this movement. We began to stop it using President’s House building. The House is a pioneer of development here and it’s situated in 150 m to seacoast. Ukrainian Navy personnel live here. The Project is deserving attention. We installed entrance glass doors here for the first time. Usually we come into “burrow”, but there are open entrances here without any steps according to invalids’ needs. We come in and approach to elevator. The first (ground) floor is non-residential. But were many objections regarding to Round House.

А+С: From archeologists?

George GRIGORYANTS: No, from an architecture community. They did not want the round house. But colleagues are colleagues and everybody has his own opinion. Though the house is built and we are proud of it.
We called the street as Antique Avenue in our project. This name became a postal address: Antique Park, Antique Street… All objects construct in single style. There is College School, two multi-storey houses with wide body (24 m of width and 37 m of length) on the right hand and on the left hand. There are eight flats oh the floor with atriums on the every two floors. Construction continues and drawings are ready. Last year the President’s House was nominated for the State Prize. Arrived committee thought well of the project and recommended us to form a street without anybody. We hold single stylistics and open the prospect over sea using terraced buildings.

А+С: Thank you. I wish you creative success!