Uncharted Canvas: A Journey through Beirut, Brussels, and Beyond

A Memoir: An Armenian Architect’s Legacy

All royalties will be donated to the Armenian Museum of America.

Rouben Simonian shares the inspiring story of his Armenian heritage and his transformative journey from childhood in Beirut to a successful architectural career in America. As the son of Armenian Genocide survivors, Rouben comes of age along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, developing a deep appreciation for Western culture, French literature, and the fine arts. Continuing his education in Brussels, he encounters challenging and eye-opening adventures during Europe's counterculture years. By chance, he falls in love with a girl from Tennessee and settles into a new life in Memphis. Rouben fulfills his aspirations as he moves up the corporate ladder and witnesses Armenia’s independence following the breakup of the Soviet Union. However, tragedy looms on the horizon, prompting him to reevaluate his life. He finds a new purpose after traveling to Armenia and later connecting with his newfound family, once dispersed by the Armenian Genocide over a century ago. Rouben paints a rich picture of his journey across three continents, where opportunity and fate determine the next strokes on his canvas.

Heartwarming yet heartbreaking, Uncharted Canvas is an epic of humanity that takes you from a golden age to a golden parachute, from civil war in Beirut to family drama in Tennessee, from difficult choices to second chances, and from genocide to genealogy. Rouben also transports you into the corporate world, where his architectural designs make a groundbreaking impact on today’s travel and logistics.