Rossiya Cinema, Soviet modernist movie theater in Yerevan, Armenia.
Rossiya Cinema is a shopping and entertainment complex in Yerevan featuring bold concrete forms and sharp geometric lines. The building rises through layered concrete sections that create angular volumes and distinctive visual impact.
The building was constructed between 1968 and 1975 by three Armenian architects during the peak of Soviet modernism. It opened as a major cinema venue and remained a key cultural center for the city throughout the remaining Soviet decades.
The building served as a gathering place for moviegoers and shaped how people spent their evenings throughout the Soviet era. Visitors today can still sense this social role in the building's layout and the way spaces are organized.
The building sits in central Yerevan and is easily reached on foot from nearby neighborhoods and main streets. Visit during daytime hours to appreciate the architectural details and lighting, as the interior shops and facilities operate during standard business hours.
The stacked concrete forms were deliberately designed to echo the silhouette of Mount Ararat, a mountain of profound meaning in Armenian culture and history. This connection between Soviet building style and Armenian identity makes the structure more than just a functional building.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
