Code,803003
Subject,Berj Shakarian
Date,2012
Interviewer,Rich Raponi and Jim Lanese
Abstract,"Berj Shakarian, architect for the Armenian Cultural Gardens, shares about his immigration to America from Armenia, his views about what the city is doing with the Mall, details about projects from when he was the Public Architect for Cuyahoga County, how the Armenian Cultural Garden came to be and the influences behind its design, his crucial involvement in restoring Playhouse Square, and the design of St. Ignatius Plaza at John Carroll. "
Tags,
Special Notes,"Interviewer is joined by his wife and son, Pietra. Phone rings 22:19. "
Minutes: ,84 minutes
0,Born in Romania in 1945. Family came to US. 
1,"Arrived on July 4, 1961. Graduated from West HS and Case with a degree in architecture. Met wife on the Rapid on his way to school and married in 1971. Has four children. "
2,Begins story of how he met his wife. 
3,Initially wasn't sure Berj was Armenian.
4,
5,"Family came to US because of the idea of freedom, and getting away from communism. "
6,Parents came from Turkey during genocide- shortest distance was to go to Romania. Then went to Bucharest. Went Soviets came after the War- stayed until the 1960s and went to Lebanon. 
7,"Initially planned to go to Brazil with uncles. Organization helped send family to US. Landed in New York. Mother was very ill, recommended to go to Cleveland because if University Hospitals. "
8,Mother passed away during heart surgery. Father returned to Lebanon. Armenian community located on E 55th Street. Small community. 
9,Waves of immigration- community can grown. On E 55th near Broadway. Opened a deli on Detroit- but left to Lebanon 6 months later. 
10,Sister emigrated from Romania to Beirut- Husband influenced Berj to be an architect. Enrolled in Case. Closed down the school in 1975. 
11,"Intern with Carl Stokes, architect intern with the city. Organized the Euclid Festival. Set up tennis court. Public architect for Cuyahoga County- in charge of all county buildings."
12,"Restored Cuyahoga County Court House, Human Services Buildings on Superior. All projects were on time and on budget. Falling out to commissioners- felt AmeriTrust Building was a bad investment. "
13,Did not want to leave the idea for the Mall. The Mall is a disaster today. 
14,First building was Federal building- a lot of unknown iconography. Specified capitals for each building. 
15,Ruined by creating the hill- disaster for urban design. 
16,New buildings give no meaning. Mall is not a public space as originally envisioned- now private. Plan was abandoned. 
17,West side of the Mall was a disaster. County administration building was not a special building- tried to maintain height. 
18,Architect has a obligation to serve the public and client at the same time. 
19,If it touches your soul- then that's architecture. Should have more of that in the public sector to create meaning.
20,Describes the meaning that could be applied to a court house. 
21,"Justice Center does not convey various meanings, or tell a story. Worked on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. "
22,Inside is painted. Was going to do a basic restoration. Panels with names were warped- called geologist from Natural Science Museum. Believed the panels were painted originally. 
23,1894 dedication article stated there were sumptuous senses of color. 
24,Decided to paint the panels- invited University of Virginia colorist. Opens up your heart. Consultant filed a complaint to Ohio Historical Society- OHS sided with Berj. 
25,Outside work also was done- on going process. The monument is important because at the end of the Civil War in Public Square there was a statue of Commodore Perry- hero of 1812 battle. 
26,"If he would not have won the battle, Cleveland would be part of Canada. Major Gleason got together Civil War Veterans to build a monument, public outcry against- went to Ohio Supreme Court. "
27,"Allowed to be built. Avant garde because of Lincoln giving a rifle to a slave. Designed the Croatian church on Superior and 36th, St. Nicholas. "
28,Difficult part is coming up with ideas- should not be happy with the first ideas. Should continuously question- evolutionary process. Important to second guess. 
29,Became involved in the Armenian Cultural Gardens because his son help asking why Armenia didn't have its own garden. Maybe the Armenians do not want to make themselves visible. 
30,"Got a committee together. First thought of celebrating William Seryoan, writer from California who wrote about the Armenian experience in America. "
31,Creating a bench to sit next to him. Costs became an issue. 
32,"Maybe alphabet int he background- Man of letters, and explains importance of Armenian alphabet, direct response of Armenians being converted to Christianity. "
33,"Began with 36 letters and in the 10th century went up to 38. Building of churches- the three elements that define an Armenian are religion, architecture, and letters. "
34,Defined a new type of building in building churches- became national architectural style. 
35,"As an independent state between Rome and Persia, Armenia has its down distinct flavor in 301 C.E. Alphabet was invented to translate the Bible. "
36,Armenian nationalists believe they descendants of Noah. 
37,"No garden in Cleveland- nationally divided because of the genocide in 1915, Russian Armenians and Soviet Armenians. "
38,Explains conflict- seems to have dissipated when Armenia became independent in 1991. 
39,"Not a strong presence in Cleveland compared to Fresno, Glendale, and Boston. "
40,"Scattered presence in Cleveland. 1970s- around 2,500 people, has not really changed. "
41,"St. Gregory (sympathetic to Soviet Army, willing to accept status quo) on Richmond is the primary Armenian church. North Royalton was anticommunist. "
42,Sympathetic v anticommunist. Began in 2007. Went to Foundation to seek approval. Chose sight at the corner. 
43,"Went through evaluation process for cost and process. Alphabet with staggered blocks. Convey the idea of stone, staggering symbolizes the trials and tribulations, stepping stones for the future. "
44,Released doves on dedication day. Intersection of 3 circles in walkway- represents Christ. 
45,Striped character- use different color stones for churches.
46,"St. George example in Armenia, with stone striations. "
47,St. Thaddeus in northern Iran was also an influence. Historical experiences influenced. 
48,"Spread all over the world, but still exist. Miracle of the experience. Reflect tradition."
49,Almost Celtic. Carving something in stone makes a statement- what is the essence? Show movement. Live is no exact. 
50,33 famous Armenian names on the back of blocks.
51,Explains significance of names. 
52,
53,Help educate the community. Walkway in cobblestone to reflect old village. 
54,
55,Make the park as urban as possible. Some felt doing anything in the Cultural Gardens would be a waste. Persuaded that it would be very important. 
56,In a globalized world- ethnic differences are being faded. 
57,
58,"Important institution in Cleveland. Nice diversity and quality of design should be improved for some, but it is nice to have their presence. "
59,Encouraged ideas of having events. Honored to be in the location. One World Day. Maybe Dolma food festival. 
60,Dolma is stuffed grape leaves. 
61,Trying to get landscaping done. Work in progress. Wanted to create a big chess board. 2nd time world chess champions. 
62,"Carlos Bozoklian, man who loved life- donated the supplies. "
63,Hero of the Gardens. Passed away in 2011. 
64,Talks about artistic influences. 
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68,Playhouse Square restoration. In such bad shape that the owner was thinking about tearing it down in the 1970s. Objected idea of building a parking lot there. 
69,Arguing about how many trees to put there- imagine what that would do to Cleveland. George Voinovich was a willing partner. 
70,Remodeled State Theater first. Describes the place falling apart. Spent 5 years restoring. 
71,Second largest theater district in the United States. Asked people to help out after shows. 
72,"County still owns it. Renovated roof, plaster, lighting- needed to be an operating theater for modern times. "
73,Last minute loges- still opened on time for the Met Opera. 
74,Current plan for St. Ignatius Plaza at John Carroll. Continues talking about influences and details of St. Ignatius Plaza. 
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80,Court house is his favorite project. 
81,So much meaning there. Problem is that no politician has love of vision in their hearts. Reflection of City Beautiful. 
82,"Came up with a plan for the Mall, but was laughed at. "
83,"Idea to cover the Mall and put palm trees, with access below. "
84,"Sloping Mall, cutting the view to the Lake. Honored to be a part of the galaxy of gardens. "