Issue 1, 2013 February-March - Investor.ge

There is a heated debate in Tbilisitoday over how the city shouldlook in the future: which historicbuildings and squares should bepreserved, which neighborhoods shouldhost new, modern architecture, and whoshould be consulted before new buildingsand structures go up.While the City of Tbilisi’s Old Tbilisiadministration did not answer questionsabout the city’s plans for the district,architects have plenty of ideas on howto find the right balance between thechanging needs of the city and the desireto preserve its historic roots.“There is no question- the city needsto be developed, and development meansconstant changes- changes according totime, needs and new modern tendencies,”noted Dr. Lena Kiladze.“Balance can be reached only bystrong regulation and zoning codes.Georgian architects need to develop thelanguage of contemporary Georgian architecture,and, at the same time, try toaddress global architectural issues suchas the limitations of energy, space andtime; along with issues of global warming;environment degradation; socialcohesion; and value creation.”Uarchitect founders Misak Terzibasiyanand Emile van Vugt noted thatthere is a “unique situation” in Tbilisiright now – and the process of workingthrough community and history will helpthe city determine the right mixture of oldand new buildings.“This city is starting to rebuild itshistoric substance, and there is a strongconsciousness about- and appreciationfor- the past. It is a starting point fromwhich to make the local identity of Tbilisiclearer and more interesting. The buildingswhich are being planned and built inTbilisi at this moment are in part eithernot reacting to or taking into accountthe city’s past. Of course, the questionarises: is it important for modern architectureto take into account the existingsubstance? We see it as an emotionaldiscussion to have this choice made bythe city and the people,” they wrote in anemail interview.“Discovering the different layers andconnections of the city, and emphasizingsome of them, is also a challenge forTbilisi. We have noticed that the city ofTbilisi is working on the reconstructionof these historic layers and connections.This process of balancing historicbuildings and modern architecture is anexchange of information between localidentity and global society. We think thatafter a period of ten years we will bettersee the results of this careful process.”