Architects Unveil Vision For Self-Sufficient Valley In Armenia

Architects have unveiled their vision for a self-sufficient valley in Armenia. Netherlands-based architecture firm MVRDV were commissioned by the Armenian non-profit organisation DAR Foundation for Regional Development and Competitiveness to develop a design thatwill make the 34,000-hectare area more sustainable and ecologically diverse. In the Gagarin Valley, 10,000 plant species will soon flourish on as many plots. With the help of innovative facilities and future-proof housing that will add 12,000 new housing units the valley will become an ideal base for sustainable agriculture and ecotourism and welcome a new generation of residents. Armenia's Gagarin Valley – named after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin – is located near Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus. Surrounded by mountains, roughly 11,000 inhabitants live in several villages spread throughout the valley. The vision proposes a market hall, a commercial centre, a centre for the arts, and a sunken stadium for 4,500 visitors. The heart of the valley will be formed by an educational agricultural centre around which the highest density can be found with houses stacked to form vertical villages. By 2026, Armenia aims to attract some 2.5 million tourists a year to which the transformed Gagarin Valley will make a significant contribution