23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Soviet Remnant: Abandoned Concrete Geometry
This photograph captures an abandoned cable car station in Ijevan, Armenia, a relic of Soviet-era architecture. The structure exemplifies Brutalist aesthetics—raw concrete, sharp geometry, and monumental form—now standing in silent contrast with its natural surroundings. I was drawn to the way time and abandonment have transformed this once-functional structure into a sculptural reminder of ideological ambition and architectural rigor.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 09.2024 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Ijevan, Armenia |
| Camera: | NIKON Z 30 |
| Copyright: | © Nanncie Zhu |