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Gudiashvili Square Redevelopment, Tbilisi, Georgia 
Friday 16 Dec 2011
 
New life for historic plaza
 
All images: Zechner & Zechner
 
Your comments on this project

No.of Comments: 88

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19/12/11 Richard Lussen, Tangier
I am very curious to hear the firm's justification for this, minus the masturbatory architectural jargon.
19/12/11 AK, Tbilisi
I agree with Will - this must not be allowed to happen. It is truely one of the most beautiful squares - isn't there some way to protect these buildings and the square? It just guts me to think of that monstrosity there instead!!!
19/12/11 Anastasia, Tbilisi
This project concept leaves the feeling that architects never been there by themselves. This is pure vandalism and destruction of the Old Town. " richly decorated balconies" ??? The balconies are beautiful without any redesign, and they were made by better architect surely. The square is one of the oldest and maybe it needs reconstruction but not this crappy "wonna-be-europian-glamshit"
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19/12/11 irakli, tbilisi
Has any of the architects been at this place? This is the square from 19 century surrounded with old houses carrying very authentic architecture and having official status of monuments. Where are they all? Did anyone of designers think about the character and spirit of this place? Is putting Prada and Chanel in rendering all you can?
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19/12/11 salome, tbilisi
i feel very sad that this project was approved, since the look here does not at all correspond to the old part of the city, where the square is located. and the way Gudiashvili square looks now is just so much more elegant and beautiful, has a way much more feeling to it, than this consumerist squared design.
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19/12/11 Dr. Hans Gutbrod, Tbilisi
this is wanton destruction of a wonderful old-style square by something entirely generic.

I'm all in favor of modernizing things, and don't think that one needs to hold on to the past for its own sake, but this is such a lovely square right now, and none of that seems carried over into the incredibly generic Prada, Chanel, etc facades, that would rob Tbilisi of one of its nicest places.

The presentation, as it stands now, does little to convince anyone that historic elements will really be carried over.
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19/12/11 William, Tbilisi
this must not be allowed to happen to one of the most beautiful squares of tbilsi--a square where almost every building survives and stands, presenting a unified 19th century ensemble, and also a square where every building is listed. this crass redevelopment would be both figuratively and literally criminal and i urge everybody who cares about tbilisi to do all they can to help prevent it from happening
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19/12/11 Maya, Tbilisi
this might be really very beautiful but it's not Old Tbilisi. I live in this square and feel very strange when I look at this picture. Did this project win? and if it did, when will you start reconstruction?
19/12/11 Chrest, Tbilisi
This concept is an outrage to anyone (foreigner or Georgian) who enjoys the charm and character of Old Tbilisi, which Zechner and Zechner clearly do not. Here is a picture of a building currently located on the square; claiming that these giant concrete and glass monstrosities would "harmonise" with the surrounding buildings is absurd. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddohler/5252471790/
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19/12/11 Mari, Tbilisi
I would recommend uploading the photos of the square as it is now, so that readers can have an idea of the present atmosphere there, and why it is attractive to both locals and tourists. I believe contrasting that with these plans will make it pretty clear why not to go ahead with these plans...

Austrian practice selected to redesign Gudiashvili Square in Tbilisi, Georgia


Zechner & Zechner have won first prize in a competition for Multifunctional Project Development in Tbilisi, Georgia. The project task was to develop a multifunctional area with shops, offices and restaurants around the Gudiashvili Square in the heart of old Town in Tbilisi. This is partly in the redevelopment of listed buildings, but the majority are newly constructed.

The choice of a structure divided into individual buildings carries on the old town’s habitual growth pattern, interweaving the new development with the existing fabric of the city. The valuable ground floors are exclusively shopping and restaurant space, which also partly extend to the below-ground floors.

The below-ground floors will also be partially used for self-contained restaurant space. The office and residential space are planned on the upper floors. Similarly the architectural design follows the urban integration concept in attempting to respond to the scale and character of the location.

Zechner & Zechner explain: “We will transform a classic Georgian element into a pattern that will form part of the facade design, supported by the richly decorated balconies, and take on the intricacy and scale of the historic faces of the existing buildings. The element will be a unifying idea suffusing the facades, in various degrees of abstraction, and harmonising the individual buildings to create an ensemble.”

Key Facts

Status Competition win
Value 0(m€)
Zechner & Zechner Zt Gmbh
www.zechner.com

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