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