FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Utopia and Collapse: Rethinking Metsamor

Andorka Timea's book, "Utopia and Collapse," delves into the rise and fall of Metsamor, the Armenian atomic city, offering a unique perspective on the architectural history and the phenomenon of modern ruins. The book combines an oral history of the place, photographic research by Katharina Roters, and academic essays, shedding light on Armenia’s cultural and architectural histories, the typology of Soviet atomograds, and the unique Armenian variety of Soviet Modernism of the 1960s and 1970s.

Metsamor, once a symbol of the Soviet-Armenian dream of technological progress, faced a dramatic turn of events following a devastating earthquake in 1988 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The closure of the power plant led to the abandonment of construction, leaving the town in a state of disengagement from its original purpose.

The book's design and realization were carefully crafted to harmonize the different genres of images and text, with a focus on preserving original colors and contrasts. It features a hardback cover and measures 220 x 295 mm, offering a unique reading experience. The book's journey from the initial research stages to its publication in 2018 reflects a decade-long commitment to unraveling the story of Metsamor.

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