DESIGN
THE LOCATION
The Philadelphia Museum of Art, an iconic landmark built in the early 1900s, boasts one of the nation’s most prestigious art collections and consistently ranks among the top 10 U.S. museums and top 50 worldwide. Drawing around 800,000 visitors annually, it has hosted numerous renowned exhibitions, including works by Armenian-American painter Arshile Gorky. Its grand steps gained fame in the movie Rocky.
Perched atop Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Museum serves as a gateway to Fairmount Park. Across from its north entrance, between Anne d’Harnoncourt and Kelly Drive, the Armenian Heritage Walk surrounds the repositioned Young Meher statue. This new space will feature a walkway, artwork stations, landscaping, and lighting.
DESIGN RENDERINGS
Below you see the latest artist renderings of key elements of the project.
The new Armenian Heritage Walk is a landscaped garden and outdoor sculpture gallery with themes designed to enrich and educate visitors about Armenian culture in a variety of ways. The overall design is an integration of cultural art, landscape, and Armenian history.
Visitors entering the project from the east side of the Philadelphia Museum of Art travel the museum-lined Benjamin Franklin Parkway, while visitors entering from the west are connected to the Schuylkill River Trail. These notable art-filled pedestrian routes lead visitors to the newly landscaped and sculpture-rich Armenian Heritage Walk, directly outside the north entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
LANDSCAPING
Our team has been working in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Morris Arboretum, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to develop a robust and meaningful landscape and planting plan for the Armenian Heritage Walk.
Planting selections were inspired by the following three regions in Armenia:
Kasakh Meadow Steppe, Pambak Forest, Shenkani Steppe
Taxus Baccata
Salvia Verticillata
Geranium Sanguineum
Geranium Sanguineum x
Scillasiberica
Carex Pennsylvanica
Nepera Racemose
Schizachyrium Scoparium
Achillea Filipendulina
Campanula Latifolia
Semi-desert slightly rolling plain, covered with scanty vegetation and drought tolerant grasses:
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Sagebrush
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Festuca
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Juniperus
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Elymus
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Stipa
Dominant tree species in the Northwest:
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Quercus macranthera
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Acer trautvetteri
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Betula litwinowii
Includes the following perennials:
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Carex
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Carum caucasium
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Campanula
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Geranium
Dominant perennials:
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Cyperaceae
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Artemisia
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Asteraceae
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Campanula
LEARN ABOUT THE PROJECT
Discover the legend of the Meher statue, the artist behind its creation, and the intricate details that make it a unique cultural and artistic treasure within Philadelphia’s vast library of sculptures. Learn More
The Project Design
This project holds deep symbolic and cultural significance for both the Armenian community and the City of Philadelphia. Explore the inspiration behind it and the many details that make it truly special. Learn More
On April 24, 1976, Armenians from across the country gathered in Philadelphia to unveil and dedicate a statue honoring the legendary Armenian hero, Young Meher. Explore the history and view photos from this momentous day. Learn More
