It has been said that you can recognise good architecture in the beauty of its ruins. This is certainly true for the row of 19th-century townhouses built on a stretch of Pushkin street, between Abovyan St. and Sakharov square. These buildings have survived the Soviet Union more-or-less intact, but are in serious need of repair.

Some have argued that they were deliberately neglected to justify their demolishing and replacement with a new real-estate development, as has been the case in other parts of the city. Regardless, they’ve survived.

I walk by this stretch of street twice a day on my way to and back from my office; and every single time I stop for a minute to appreciate the subtle elements of their masonry, or the intricate details on their traditional wooden doors.

These buildings were saved (at least for now) from destruction recently, thanks to the efforts of the owner of Yerevan’s most famous restaurant, Dolmama (also situated within this stretch). As Yerevan’s history slowly gives way to continued urban re-development, these two-story structures stand as a testament to the city’s 2800-year architectural heritage.