I was once passing by this part of Hanrapetutyan street in the center of Yerevan and noticed something bizarre and funny, at least something I hadn't seen anywhere else in the city: an individual traffic light by the entry arch to one of Yerevan's yards, which all have traffic, but none has a traffic light. It is on a 24/7 yellow light blinking mode, just like other normal lights wherever there is a more pedestrian-friendly crossing.
One can ask - what's so special about this light, right? Well, let me explain. If you've been in other countries with mixed eastern-western cultures, you might have seen how people take care of the city pavement in front of their shops and houses or decorate their buses or taxis inside, almost converting them into churches on wheels. So, to me here we have something with a similar intention to domesticate the public space, to make it more functional. The cross hanging from the taxi mirror does have a clear function - to protect from the bad eye and maybe from alien invasion :).
The yard, being public space, is often considered to be a part of the house/apartment, depends on where it is, who is inhabiting it etc, and people modify it according to their needs. Visit Kond district in Yerevan (I highly recommend it!), and you'll see some inner yards with tiny fountains in the center which create a very homey feeling, with only the roof missing to make it a house. And it's all functional.
62 Hanrapetutyan Street
AMD
no-price
Explore cities like a local with Spotted by Locals - discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Yerevan guide.
It truly is a Soviet masterpiece considering its unique design and build: it is part metro station, part cavern and, once upon a time, part cafe.
By
"Homeland Handycrafts" in Yerevan is a social enterprise designed to revive traditional Armenian crafts while employing the most vulnerable population...
By
The "Open Air Cinema" in Yerevan in Moscow Cinema has a rich history, and Soviet ruin-porn enthusiasts can access the building all-year round, too!
By
By
"Hanrapetutyan Street" in Yerevan is one of the most central in the city, yet there is so much to see here. The buildings are really beautiful and old...
By
"Ardēan": a center for art, architecture and design that has its gallery shop on Abovyan street in Yerevan. I like how they combine technology & tradition.
By
The "Mermaids of the Underground" in Yerevan is a sculpture from 1981. The mermaids wear nothing but their hair, which was quite unusual for its time...
By
The "Komitas Museum" in Yerevan is one of my favorite ones in the city. It gets me thinking about what Armenian music really is about...
By
"Shengavit" is an impressive 6000-year-old settlement which is preserved even better than Yerevan's old town! It was an accidental discovery in the 1930s.
By
"Melancholia" is a statue in Yerevan that truly expresses the feeling that has been increasingly affecting humankind in the last century...
By
The "Cross-stone Makers" in Yerevan follow a tradition that goes back to 879 AD. The masters' metal tools on the stone create a meditative sound for me...
By
"Calumet Ethnic Lounge Bar": THE place for good music in Yerevan. I don't come as often as I'd like to because of the smoke, but it's a must at least once.
By
142 Insider Tips from Locals
Authentic Stories
Escape the Crowds
Full Access to our Art & culture Blog & App!
✓ 142 Hidden Gems only Locals know
✓ Full Access to the Art & culture City Blog & App!