“Aratta Garden” by Palyan Architects earns Honorable Mention at SHARE Architecture Awards
YEREVAN / DORNBIRN, Austria —The Aratta Garden project by Palyan Architects received an Honorable Mention from the international jury in the Future Projects category at the SHARE Architecture Awards, held Dec. 3-4 in Dornbirn, Austria.
Over two days, the SHARE Architecture Awards brought together 250 architects from 20 countries in Central and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The event provided a unique platform to exchange ideas, challenges and innovations, and explore how diverse cultures influence architecture, space and identity.
The SHARE Architecture Awards were held for a second year, with four Armenian architectural studios selected for the final list. Among them, Palyan Architects’ Aratta Garden project was recognized with an Honorable Mention.
Tigran Palyan, founder and CEO of Palyan Architects, traveled to Austria to personally present the project. The multidisciplinary team included architects Tigran Palyan, Vrezh Tamazyan and Lilit Sukiasyan; interior designers Mary Palyan and Hasmik Karapetyan; exterior visualization by Gor Tamazyan; structural engineer Vaspurak Karapetyan; and engineer Armen Grigoryan.
About the Aratta Garden project
Aratta Garden is a cultural and architectural complex consisting of four distinct structures organized around a large open space designed to host festivals and attract tourists. The project aims to present Armenian culture, traditions and heritage through a contemporary architectural language.
Currently under construction, the project is located near Khor Virap monastery, the historic site associated with Armenia’s adoption of Christianity in 301, with Mount Ararat rising in the background — an iconic and sacred symbol of Armenian identity.
The four structures include:
- A restaurant with an underground wine-tasting hall
- A tonir/lavash bakery
- A souvenir market
- A public restroom
While each building features a unique architectural expression, all are harmoniously integrated, forming a cohesive ensemble inspired by Armenian history and symbolism.
Cultural inspiration and design elements
The lavash bakery draws inspiration from traditional Armenian clay salt sacks, symbolizing Anahit, the Armenian goddess of fertility and beauty. Its roof reinterprets the historic Hazarashen roofing technique through the use of clay materials and carefully designed lighting.
The souvenir market is inspired by the Armenian circular folk dance shoorj par, where dancers move hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder as a symbol of unity. This concept is expressed architecturally through concrete columns resembling dancers in motion.
To maintain visual harmony, the public restroom adopts circular forms inspired by the tonir and souvenir market, reinforcing the project’s unified design language.
The main restaurant building features a wine-tasting hall on its underground level. Its architectural form is inspired by a reclining wine vessel, symbolizing the pouring of wine and reflecting Armenia’s millennia-old winemaking tradition. The bar and lighting design echo the shapes of ancient wine vessels, referencing the historic Areni winery.
The project is named “Aratta,” after an ancient land mentioned in early Mesopotamian sources and associated with the Armenian Highlands.
At the heart of the complex is a large elliptical public square, designed to host national festivals, including wine tastings, dance and music performances, traditional food celebrations and craft events — positioning Aratta Garden as a living cultural destination.
All photos are courtesy of Palyan Architects unless otherwise noted.
