Government House, Yerevan, Official residence on Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia
Government House sits on Republic Square and serves as the official residence of Armenia's Prime Minister. The building contains several specialized rooms, including the Green Chamber for important meetings, and is topped by a large clock.
Alexander Tamanian designed the Government House in 1926–1928 as the first building on the oval square of his 1924 Yerevan master plan. Construction was completed in 1952 by his son Gevorg, who removed the central raised section and added a large assembly hall on the east side. Tamanian received the Soviet State Award in 1942 for the design.
The curved main facade facing the square is built on a rhythm of five arches resting on massive clustered columns, with an open colonnade above. Tamanian drew decorative motifs from medieval Armenian architecture at Tekor and Dvin. The building is faced in pink felsite tuff on a basalt base, and its height and horizontal lines set the scale later buildings on the square followed.
The building sits centrally on Republic Square and is visible from several angles. Since it is an active government seat, access inside is restricted, but the exterior plaza offers good viewing angles.
A massive clock mechanism from Moscow was installed on the roof in 1941 and remains one of the most eye-catching features of the square. The timepiece operates to this day and is visible from all corners of the plaza.
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