Utopia and Collapse
book for Timea Andorka
Utopia and Collapse documents the rise and fall of Metsamor, the Armenian atomic city. It brings together a history of the place and a photographic research with some academic essays. Metsamor’s architecture is a unique example of an Armenian variety of Soviet Modernism. Among the topics discussed are Armenia’s cultural and architectural histories, the typology of Soviet atomograds and the phenomenon of modern ruins. This book, based on the multidisciplinary Rethinking Metsamor research project, for the first time tells the city’s story and reveals what lessons can be learned from it.
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Utopia and Collapse book Press Releases
For Utopia and Collapse, find press releases in a variety of languages: English.
Utopia and Collapse book Translations
Bringing Utopia and Collapse closer to you with translations in multiple languages: Book EN, Boek AF, Libër SQ, መጽሐፍ AM, كتاب AR, Գիրք HY, Kitab AZ, Liburu EU, Кніга BE, বই BN, Knjiga BS, Книга BG, စာအုပ် MY, Llibre CA, Buku NY, 书 ZH, Libru CO, Knjiga HR, Kniha CS, Bog DA, Boek NL, Libro EO, Raamat ET, Kirja FI, Livre FR, Libro GL, წიგნი KA, Buch DE, Βιβλίο EL, પુસ્તક GU, Liv HT, Littafi HA, הספר HE, पुस्तक HI, Könyv HU, Buku ID, Leabhar GA, Akwụkwọ IG, Bók IS, Libro IT, 本 JA, Buku JV, ಪುಸ್ತಕ KN, Кітап KK, សៀវភៅ KM, Igitabo RW, Китеп KY, 책 KO, Pirtûk KU, Liber LA, Buch LB, ປື້ມ LO, Knyga LT, Grāmata LV, Книга MK, Boky MG, Buku MS, പുസ്തകം ML, Ktieb MT, Pukapuka MI, पुस्तक MR, Ном MN, पुस्तक NE, Bok NO, ପୁସ୍ତକ OR, ਕਿਤਾਬ PA, کتاب FA, Książka PL, کتاب PS, Livro PT, Carte RO, Книга RU, ڪتاب SD, Tusi SM, Књига SR, Leabhar GD, Bhuku SN, පොත SI, Kniha SK, Knjiga SL, Buugga SO, Buka ST, Libro ES, Buku SU, Kitabu SW, Bok SV, புத்தகம் TA, పుస్తకం TE, Китоб TG, หนังสือ TH, Kitap TK, Libro TL, Kitap TR, Китап TT, كىتاب UG, Книга UK, کتاب UR, Kitob UZ, Sách VI, Llyfr CY, Boek FY, Incwadi XH, בוך YI, Iwe YO, Incwadi ZU, 書 ZY, Libro CEB, Puke HAW, Phau Ntawv HMN.
Utopia and Collapse book Media Articles
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Unique Properties
Metsamor, the workers’ town adjacent to the eponymous Armenian nuclear power plant, is a symbol of the Soviet-Armenian dream of technological progress. Over the course of nearly two decades, construction of the town advanced at a rapid pace. However, a devastating earthquake in 1988 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the closedown of the power plant and, subsequently, all construction in Metsamor came to a halt. By the time the plant reopened in 1995, the town had become disengaged from its original purpose and people were living in a half-built and largely abandoned urban skeleton.
Tags
book, architecture, photography, utopia, modernism, contemporary art, minimal design, environmental protection, urban planning
Production Technology
The book’s size and the type of paper has been defined by the relationship between the different genres of images and the text. When determining the size, the ratio of the archive documentary photos had to be taken into consideration as they are completely different from the contemporary art photos made for negatives of 6×6 cm. Therefore the grid had to facilitate the harmonzation of both image types with the book as a whole and with each other as well. Two different types of paper are used for the book’s body. The first part contains alternating old and recent photos, ground plans and documentary photos, and some short sections of text – for these pages we have chosen matte paper that is commonly used in the case of similar artistic publications to accentuate and preserve original colours and contrasts. The studies of the second part are printed on recycled paper to make reading agreeable.
Design Challenge
The biggest challenge was selecting and arranging the photos, and composing their inherent narrative all along. This meant the task of the editor (as of the subject) and the graphic designer (as of the aesthetics), thus the creation of each and every spread was anticipated by long reflection, experimenting, and sometimes extensive discussions. The problem came from the fact that altogether four visual languages came to our disposal: ground plans drawn during the construction period, archive photos, a photographic documentation of the current state of the city, and contemporary artistic photos, reflecting the special ambiance, that had been taken onto 6×6 cm film were available. One of our intentions were to avoid self-repetition and all redundancy. We hoped to tell Metsamor’s story the way Italo Calvino tells stories about Venice in Invisible Cities: telling a different story all the time that is the same story in the end.
Project Duration
2007: studying the Metsamor city plans under Sarhat Petrosyan’s supervision on behalf of the Ministry of Urban Development of Armenia. 2008–09: a diploma program takes place for the reassessment of the city’s original plans. 2011–12: Metsamor-trips for international researchers organized by Urbanlab Yerevan. 2014: developing a visual artistic concept that is complementary to the architectural perception: the idea of a more complex approach is born at the workshop led by Katharina Roters, Budapest-Cologne based photo artist, in Yerevan. 2016: ReThink Metsamor Exhibition in Venice, Italy – Independent Landscape, Pavilion of the Republic of Armenia at the 15th Venice Biennale of Architecture. 2018: Utopia and Collapse – Rethinking Metsamor. The Armenian Atomic City – the book published by Park Books, Zurich, Switzerland.
Operation Flow
What happens when destiny and reality override plans and utopias, and when a dwelling is bereaved its actual purpose? Metsamor’s architecture is a unique example of a distinctively Armenian variety of Soviet Modernism of the 1960s and 1970s. The book, based on the extensive and multidisciplinary Rethinking Metsamor research project, for the first time tells the city’s story in full and reveals what lessons can be learned from it.
Research
The goal of the Rethinking Metsamor project is to establish a collaborative research of planners and visual artists on urban history of singular example of Soviet modernism – Metsamor city and Nuclear Power Plant located in the area (both built in the 1970’s) and also the post-Soviet development of urban environment, with a special focus on social obstacles caused by environmental fears and challenges. One of the great results of the successful collaboration is the fact that Armenia was represented by this project at the 15th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2016. The book’s appearance – with photos, studies and ground plans – in 2018 meant another milestone of a decade in research; furthermore, the book even made it to the shortlist of the German Photo Book Award 2018.
Inspiration
Utopia and Collapse documents the rise and fall of Metsamor, the Armenian atomic city. The book brings together an oral history of the place and a photographic research by Katharina Roters with a number of academic essays. Among the topics discussed are Armenia’s cultural and architectural histories; the typology of Soviet atomograds, or atomic cities; and the phenomenon of modern ruins. Although today the power plant’s workers live in a partly built failed utopia, Metsamor stands as an example of the highly idiosyncratic Armenian variety of Soviet Modernism of the 1960s and 1970s, making this a fascinating story for anyone with an interest in Soviet-era buildings and architecture.
Image Credits
all images © Timea Andorka, 2019
Project Overview
Utopia and Collapse book has been a Iron winner in the Print and Published Media Design award category in the year 2018 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Iron Recognition
Andorka Timea was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2019, a testament to excellence of their work Utopia and Collapse book.
Andorka Timea Press Releases
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Utopia and Collapse: Documenting the Rise and Fall of Metsamor
Andorka Timea's book, "Utopia and Collapse," documents the unique story of Metsamor, the Armenian atomic city, exploring its architectural history and the phenomenon of modern ruins. Published by Park Books AG, Zurich, Switzerland in 2018.
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