Instead of a towering Iconic image, disconnected from historic,
horizontal Yerevan, Lace Hill stitches the adjacent city and landscape
together to support a holistic, ultra-green lifestyle, somewhere between
rural hillside living and dense cultured urbanity. The 85,000 square
meter (900,000 sf) proposal is a new model of development for Yerevan
and Armenia that supports a resilient, high-value spatial fabric, dense
with overlapping natural and urban phenomenon.

To create a new, firmly rooted architecture-urbanism-landscape, the
project morphs the common urban element of Yerevan, the superblock, to
the site, a truncated hill along the natural amphitheater of the
Yerevan. This act extends the amphitheater and completes the hill,
creating more capacity or ?seats? for the viewing of Yerevan and Mt.
Ararat, the eternal icon of Armenia. Native plants irrigated with
recycled gray water cover the hill. Intricate perforations recalling
traditional Armenian lace needlework provide terraced exterior space,
natural ventilation, and amazing views for the promenade, hotel rooms,
residences, and office space.Unlike a singular object tower that one simply views from the city
below, the lacy, living hill seduces visitors inside to a promenade and a
succession of tower-voids. Tower-voids act as dramatic cooling towers
in Yerevan?s semi-arid climate. As one moves toward the cooler center,
the hill opens to the sky. With the feel of a cathedral or basilica in
size and light, pools and tree-topped hills fill these flowing-nodal
public spaces. These are spatial monuments to Armenia, carved from the
hill like the ancient Armenian Monastery of Gerhard.Lace Hill not only conserves its own resources within, but also gives
back to Yerevan, passively cooling portions of Yerevan during the
summer. As north breezes pass over the tower-voids? ponds, the project
acts as a giant evaporative cooling mechanism for the semi-arid city
below. Window walls set deep within the terraces shade summer sun.
Planted surfaces absorb solar heat, filter air and water-borne toxins,
and supports insect and animal life. Geothermal wells and radiant floors
efficiently heat and cool spaces. Recycled gray water irrigates
agriculture and hill plantings. The lace perforated surface ventilates
the hill. The major structure is found in the perforated concrete
exterior surfaces, allowing for columnless and beamless flexible spaces.
Undulation of the surfaces form structurally efficient vaults and
arches while creating a variety of views and maximizing area.
Sun exposure and views guide location of living and working
activities. All living spaces are along the long, meandering south face
of the hill, maximizing direct sun, terraces, and incredible views.
Offices, which need indirect light and where spectacular views are less
valuable, are along the north face of the hill. A narrow office floor
plate stepping down toward the south provides adequate, diffuse
daylight. Retail, restaurants, exhibition halls, a cinema, and a health
center line the promenade at the first level.
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Lace Hill over Yerevan

Yerevan, Armenia
Instead of a towering Iconic image, disconnected from historic,
horizontal Yerevan, Lace Hill stitches the adjacent city and landscape
together to support a holistic, ultra-green lifestyle, somewhere between
rural hillside living and dense cultured urbanity. The 85,000 square
meter (900,000 sf) proposal is a new model of development for Yerevan
and Armenia that supports a resilient, high-value spatial fabric, dense
with overlapping natural and urban phenomenon.

To create a new, firmly rooted architecture-urbanism-landscape, the
project morphs the common urban element of Yerevan, the superblock, to
the site, a truncated hill along the natural amphitheater of the
Yerevan. This act extends the amphitheater and completes the hill,
creating more capacity or ?seats? for the viewing of Yerevan and Mt.
Ararat, the eternal icon of Armenia. Native plants irrigated with
recycled gray water cover the hill. Intricate perforations recalling
traditional Armenian lace needlework provide terraced exterior space,
natural ventilation, and amazing views for the promenade, hotel rooms,
residences, and office space.

Unlike a singular object tower that one simply views from the city
below, the lacy, living hill seduces visitors inside to a promenade and a
succession of tower-voids. Tower-voids act as dramatic cooling towers
in Yerevan?s semi-arid climate. As one moves toward the cooler center,
the hill opens to the sky. With the feel of a cathedral or basilica in
size and light, pools and tree-topped hills fill these flowing-nodal
public spaces. These are spatial monuments to Armenia, carved from the
hill like the ancient Armenian Monastery of Gerhard.

Lace Hill not only conserves its own resources within, but also gives
back to Yerevan, passively cooling portions of Yerevan during the
summer. As north breezes pass over the tower-voids? ponds, the project
acts as a giant evaporative cooling mechanism for the semi-arid city
below. Window walls set deep within the terraces shade summer sun.
Planted surfaces absorb solar heat, filter air and water-borne toxins,
and supports insect and animal life. Geothermal wells and radiant floors
efficiently heat and cool spaces. Recycled gray water irrigates
agriculture and hill plantings. The lace perforated surface ventilates
the hill. The major structure is found in the perforated concrete
exterior surfaces, allowing for columnless and beamless flexible spaces.
Undulation of the surfaces form structurally efficient vaults and
arches while creating a variety of views and maximizing area.
Sun exposure and views guide location of living and working
activities. All living spaces are along the long, meandering south face
of the hill, maximizing direct sun, terraces, and incredible views.
Offices, which need indirect light and where spectacular views are less
valuable, are along the north face of the hill. A narrow office floor
plate stepping down toward the south provides adequate, diffuse
daylight. Retail, restaurants, exhibition halls, a cinema, and a health
center line the promenade at the first level.

Pedestrians and cyclists access the hill via a diverse farm-park at
the south, east, and west edges of the site. A potential greenway along
the amphitheater to the west links the hill to tourist sites and
additional pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Vehicular traffic is
completely separated. 100% of parking is underground. The adjacent road
winds into a tunnel at the western base of the hill, leading to an
expansive parking space and entrance to the building above.The project forgoes making an accumulation of object buildings
perched over the city, and instead makes one building, creating public
spaces within and on it, seamlessly blending with its context. It offers
an alternative to typical development.
Instead of shimmering glass, a growing productive surface.
Instead of a sealed building, open sun-drenched terraces.
Instead of a building that imports a fleeting image, a building that
invests in performance, connectivity, and function.Program: mixed-use complex with hotel, residential, office, retail,
exhibition, cinema, health center, underground parking, public green
space, plazas, and terraced gardens
Area: 85,000 sm (915,000 sf)
Client: Avangard Motors, LLC
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Status: 2010 Competition Entry
Design Architect: Forrest Fulton
Project Team: Jared Fulton, Andrew C. Bryant, Derrick Owens