
It looks like a monolithic space-city straight out of science fiction, but in reality it was one of the jewels in the Soviet crown.

Terminal 1 at Zvartnots airport in Armenia once welcomed Kremlin VIPs and visitors from across the USSR. Now it sits abandoned, under lock and key, and facing demolition.

After it was built in the 1970s, more than 2,500 passengers crowded through the country's most modern airport terminal every hour.

For them, it was the height of luxury with a restaurant high up on the central control tower and views across to the Armenian capital Yerevan.

The old terminal one building at Zvartnots airport was once the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Now going inside is like being transported back to the 1970s

Concrete blocks and other debris litter the floor of the arrivals hall, where the old baggage carousel can still be found

The cracked ceiling is leaking, and the runway viewing windows are broken or missing. Advertising posters from the Soviet-era have not been taken down

It looks like a monolithic space-city straight out of science fiction. In reality it was one of the jewels in the Soviet crown, but now even the lettering on the side of the tower is peeling

The architecture is of distinct Soviet-era design and was meant to impress the Kremlin VIPs and visitors from all over the USSR who touched down on its runway

No longer maintained, the abandoned offices are scattered with papers. Once important, they are now simply rubbish

Now stepping inside Zvartnots, once the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is like being transported back four decades.

The grand entrance hall and the soaring concrete and marble walls are now crumbling. The cracked ceiling is leaking, and the runway viewing windows are broken or missing.

But British architects are leading international calls for it to be saved from the wrecking ball. These exclusive photographs show the iconic revolutionary building and capture the last pictures of its ghostly interior.

Armenia was incorporated into the Soviet Union along with Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1922. Soviet Armenia's economy transformed in this period from a predominantly agricultural one into an industrial success.

After it was built in the 1970s, more than 2,500 passengers crowded through the country's most modern airport terminal every hour

Today the escalators are silent and broken and the heating system doesn't work. Stubs of old tickets to Moscow and beyond lie strewn on the dusty floor.

In the post-war period the country's economic development further expanded to include military engineering, radio-electronics and an car industry and the Soviet Union centred a considerable part of their military electronic production and scientific research projects in production there.

However in 1988, a democratic movement was set up in Armenia which demanded the return of disputed Karabakh territory which had been given to Azerbaijan by Stalin.

The Karabakh movement's success eventually led to Armenia's break from the Soviet Union; in August 1990, a year before the collapse of the USSR, Armenia declared its independence.

Stubs of old tickets to Moscow and beyond lie strewn on the dusty floor

The baggage carousels lie frozen and gathering a thick layer of dust from the moment the airport saw its last flight in 2008

Leading British architect Tim Flynn says the airport is an outstanding piece of architecture. His London-based international practice has had an office in Yerevan for 14 years.

And he hopes that the new, more democratic government in Armenia which came to power after May's Velvet Revolution will decide Zvartnots is a historical building worth preserving.

And yet he warns the longer it's left to crumble away, the chances of saving it diminish.

'I realise the new prime minister has a lot on his plate, but I hope his conscience will lead to a change of plan. Whatever you think of the old Soviet Union, the buildings from this period were extraordinary and adventurous, a piece of history.'

Inside Zvartnots, the baggage carousels lie frozen at the moment the airport saw its last flight in 2008. By then the Soviet empire had collapsed and Armenia was an independent country.

Today the escalators are silent and the heating system broken down. Stubs of old tickets to Moscow and beyond lie strewn on the dusty floor.

The grand entrance hall and the soaring concrete and marble walls are now crumbling. The lifts are quiet and the whole place is eerie

Alongside derelict check-in desks and security machines, old signs for trolley hire, shopping, and the city-centre hang forlornly in the grim half-light

Alongside derelict check-in desks and security machines, old signs for trolley hire, shopping, and the city-centre hang forlornly in the grim half-light.

Abandoned offices are scattered with papers, once important, now simply rubbish.

Maintenance manager Karen Torosyan shows us round by flashlight, up and down dark concrete stairways. He said: 'This airport was the best of its kind. When I worked here it was always busy. It's sad to see it like this, but time moves on. A road flyover and some metal bridges connecting arrivals and departures, have already been pulled down. They were in a dangerous condition.'

The owners want to demolish more of the old airport to make way for a multi-million pound expansion of the new international terminal. But they are being fought by the daughter of the original airport architect.

Rubbish is strewn across the floor, the remains of now-outdated electrical devices and the windows are covered in dirt

Anahit Tarkhanyan believes the airport still has huge potential and that many don't realise what they're giving up. She says land-locked Armenia could benefit from a new renovated airport which could become the centre of a network of regional airports

Anahit Tarkhanyan's, whose father Artur, was part of the team that made the original terminal, is running for mayor of Yerevan, with a mission to fight the demolition

Clem Cecil, of SAVE Europe's Heritage and director of London's Pushkin House, the Russian cultural centre, said the terminal has been under-appreciated and should be saved

Anahit Tarkhanyan's father, Artur, was part of a prize-winning team that made the original Zvartnots terminal a symbol of Armenia, featured on postcards and tourist brochures.

Now Anahit is running for mayor of Yerevan, with a mission to fight the demolition. 'The airport has been stolen from the people. It's part of our heritage and history, but many don't realise what they're giving up. We're a land-locked country with poor roads. The old airport could be renovated to be the centre of a network of regional airports. We've got the backing of international architects, including British.

'The airport was truly revolutionary – it was just 15 metres from your car to the plane. There was a special underground luggage delivery system, and a plane refuelling pipe that ran round the airport, emerging at the underbelly of each aircraft. Unheard of in 1976.

The original arrivals balcony looked down on waiting families below and were designed to create very emotional homecomings for Armenians

The owners want to demolish more of the old airport to make way for a multi-million pound expansion of the new international terminal

The Zvartnots building is a classic of its kind and part of the unique history and culture of Armenia. It was built in an era when Soviet architects were experimenting with international influences

'Also, in Soviet times everything was regulated – even the thickness of the paint on the wall. But my father got round all that by always leaving room in his designs for later expansion.

'Most of all, he designed for the people. Armenians are scattered all over the world, so for homecomings he made sure the arrivals balcony looked down on waiting families below. It was all very emotional.'

Clem Cecil, of SAVE Europe's Heritage and director of London's Pushkin House, the Russian cultural centre, said: 'The Zvartnots building is a classic of its kind – it should be saved. It was built in a period when Stalin's grip had been broken and Soviet architects were experimenting with international influences.

She added: 'Zvartnots is very cutting edge and reflects the excitement of the times. The problem is it's been under-appreciated and vulnerable. The fact there's a growing effort to save it is good news.