The four Hovnanian brothers – Jirair, Kevork, Hirair and Vahak – are staples in the homebuilding world. They established a company together called the Hovnanian Brothers Corp. in 1959 and then disbanded and each started his own homebuilding company. From the United States to Armenia, the Hovnanian name has become synonymous with quality-built homes.
Origin
The brothers were born in Kirkuk, Iraq, but emigrated in 1948 to the United States. Their parents escaped the Genocide and were from Sebastia and Malatia.
Claim to fame
Each Hovnanian brother has an accolade to his name, but some notable achievements are the status of Kevork Hovnanian’s Hovnanian Enterprises as one of the largest homebuilders in the United States; Hirair Hovnanian’s role in leading the trend of building large-scale adult communities; and the development of American-style suburban communities in Armenia through the Vahakni residential project.
What others said
“Mr. [Kevork] Hovnanian was among the developers who transformed the shape of suburbia in the 1970s and 1980s…” – New York Times