Story about EASA 2004 held in LA CANDITION PUBLIQUE

text by and photos by sarhat Petrossian

Every time when we, young people living in Armenia, receive an opportunity to participate in the meetings of European Architecture Students’ Association we get very delighted and no matter where it takes place, with great enthusiasm we start to prepare for an activity where we, the freshmen in terms of being Europeans  become members of big European family.  

 For us the participation is difficult, to reach from one of the farthest points in Europe fighting against the barriers called “visas”, dreaming about the time when this kind of bureaucracy will be over.  

Our participation in EASA 2004 in Lille as well was accompanied with such problems. Therefore, we reached

La Condition Publique in Lille with the two days’ delay. The reason was that in our invitations(which were in French) was mentioned that the invitation is valid only with the recommendation letter from the university.Naturally because of my minimal French language knowledge I didn't understand it totally, so that French embassy refused to give us a visa and we had to apply for it for the second time. Anyway the good thing is that we reached there alive.    

We were pretty surprised when we first entered the complex which consisted from a century old factories and where the air of past was still present. In the thickest part of the camp, we were given an unfinished stand, on which we built our two-storied house from the tents enriching the general silhouette with their curve edges. 

Two of us participated in the workshop of building an Algerian restaurant and the other two: in solidarity workshop. Truly said the first days we were feeling the “advantages” of being late. Nevertheless, couples of evenings were enough for us to get into the EASA spirit and start feeling as “European architecture students”. The constituent part of which were beer drinking parties.  

I have participated in the construction of Algerian restaurant and I think that for me: the newly graduate architect it was very interesting and informative. Before I knew that we: the eastern people are very hospitable and friendly in comparison with other western nations, but when the good bye time with the owners of the restaurant came I was even surprised how hard it was to part with Madam Lalafa. I am still delighted with the cuisine and every day or better every minute attention and hospitality of Madam Subeda. 

Like this past many interesting moments on description of which I don't want to spend your precious time especially because my goal is not the description. I only want to point out the national evening of post Soviet countries, which was by us very interesting and right, because during that evening the Armenian delegation made a decision to establish an organisation joining the architect students of Newly Independent States (NIS). We hope that during the National Contact Meeting in Belgrade the fundamentals of this organization will be put.     

On our back home it was very impressive to visit the St. Mary's church of one of the greatest architects of the 20th century Le Corbuse Ronshan. I think such opportunities are very rare in ones life and we didn't miss it. Even though other members of our group missed the pleasure of being in Paris for a whole day. We made a tour around Paris for 3 hours(my apologies here, cause to make a tour in all Paris one needs a whole month) and riched our plane just in time. 

According to the number of young people present during the our presentation of the event which took place in the beginning of October, I can assure you that if the first time (EASA 2004) 3 persons participated, this time four, then perhaps next time the 6 person's quota will not be enough and we will have to apply for new places.

Sincerely, sarhatpetrossian@yahoo.com

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