Forest1961
- Location
- 3 Busabanakan St., Vanadzor, Lori, Armenia
- Total area
- 1,095 m²
- Status
- Completed
Project presentation
Forest1961 revamps an existing Soviet-era building into a boutique hotel that combines historical memory with a fresh, emotionally rich atmosphere. Located in the heart of Vanadzor, just steps from the Dendropark, it stands within the Forest Park — a place once abandoned, now revived.
The design reflects the aesthetics of French Alpine chalets, blending elements of mid-century boho with 1920s and 1960s–70s European vintage design. All furniture and lighting were custom-made for the space.
A family-run hotel shaped by lasting family values, Forest1961 offers breathtaking views, fresh air, and a warm atmosphere, preserving the soul of the original building while giving it new life.
An Alpine chalet, reimagined
The architectural intervention worked in both directions: a fourth floor was added as an attic level, and the ground floor was expanded to hold the hotel's public functions — reception, cantina, restaurant, and a cozy fireplace lounge — all within a limited footprint. The retained concrete shell is paired with new wooden structural and decorative elements, extended balconies, and a prominent pitched roof drawn from Alpine chalet architecture. Large, gridded floor-to-ceiling windows open the ground floor to the surrounding forest and flood the shared zones with daylight.
Architectural solutions
The hotel's cantina and restaurant unfold across a series of dining corners: one quiet and tactile, dressed in velvet upholstery and subtle lighting; another built around marble-topped tables, dark leather seating, and a mosaic-tile backdrop, finished with a minimal brass fixture. Natural materials such as wood and locally sourced stone carry through, keeping the building in dialogue with its forested surroundings — developed in collaboration with Andranik Pilosyan.
A mid-century bar, a fireside nook
The bar and lounge area is a warm zone for both daytime coffee and evening drinks: full-height windows bring in natural light, while wood paneling, brass accents, and globe lighting fixtures set a nostalgic, mid-century mood. Toward the back of the hotel, a quieter corner mixes natural textures and soft seating into a cozy resting nook, suited to reading, unwinding, or quiet conversation.
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