(en.tabula.ge) Gudiashvili Square in recent months has been the scene of a succession
of fairs, dancing and singing, and artistic performances. All of this
activity has been staged by peaceful protesters who are demanding that
the Mayor’s Office present its project for the rehabilitation of
Gudiashvili Square and immediately begin the reinforcement of historic
buildings there.
Fuss about Gudiashvili Square was first kicked up in social networks
and continues to date. A group with the name “STOP Destroying
Gudiashvili Square” was set up on Facebook to inform and to mobilize
society. Protest actions were organized by that group after information
and photos published on the website of Austrian architects Zechner &
Zechner ZT GmbH created an uproar. The architectural firm announced
that it had won first prize in a competition for the Multifunctional
Project Development in Tbilisi and displayed on its website its
conceptual designs of Gudiashvili Square. The conceptual designs
depicted a modern multifunctional area with shopping and restaurant
space on the ground floors and office and residential space on the upper
floors of historic buildings around Gudiashvili Square. Zechner &
Zechner explained on its website: “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.” However, the
firm’s own architectural renderings presented quite the opposite
picture. Responding to public dissatisfaction and concerns that the
architectural integrity of Gudiashvili Square would be destroyed, the
Mayor’s Office later published on its official website photos purporting
to show how renovated Gudiashvili Square will actually look. That still
has not quelled the controversy or dispelled public distrust.
The rehabilitation of Gudiashvili Square is being implemented by
development company Irao Magnat Group, which announced the competition
won by the Austrian architectural firm. Irao Magnat president Giorgi
Maghradze explains: “The only aim of the competition was the development
of a concept. No one tasked that company to provide a design of façade
too. That design reflects the personal vision of the company alone.”
Maghradze notes that an annex to the agreement signed between Irao
Magnat Group and Tbilisi Development Fund shows the development concept
and describes in detail the style and quality of building that will take
place there: “Authenticity of the historic buildings will not be
distorted. This is, first and foremost, in the interest of the investing
company.”
According to the Mayor’s Office, several groups of art historians
have been working on plans for Gudiashvili Square since 2003. The
Tbilisi Development Fund became involved in the development of the
design in 2007. Art historians, architects and engineers then conducted a
thorough study of the historic buildings and presented their report.
Based on that study as well as recommendations and surveys of the World
Cultural Heritage Organization, work commenced on the Gudiashvili Square
concept development.
Manuchar Makhatadze, the chief architect of the Tbilisi Development
Fund, points out that, even though the investor is an Austrian company,
the design development is being carried out by the Georgian side in
agreement with the Fund. Investment in the project is generally
estimated at several million Euros, although the foreign private
investor presumably has its own profit and cost estimates.
Five streets join the Gudiashvili Square. All but one of the
buildings located around the Square have cultural heritage status. The
façade of the building directly facing the Square is an inviolable part
of that cultural heritage and its authenticity must be preserved,
according to the development concept. As Tbilisi Development Fund chief
architect Makhatadze notes, the rear section of buildings not facing
Gudiashvili Square was transformed or extended sometime in the 1960s or
even earlier. That rear section is now in very poor condition and needs
to be replaced. Some of the buildings will be increased by one floor;
others will remain unchanged.
Zviad Archuadze, head of the ecological policy service Zviad
Archuadze, stresses the importance of the location in Old Tbilisi and
its connection to those centers where tourists generally congregate: “If
we want to see Tbilisi as a centre of entertainment and trade, the
development of this location is necessary. It is as yet unknown what
brands will be represented in the Gudiashvili Square. We have announced a
tender to select a consulting company. In the future, we, together with
the consulting company, will work on attracting brands.”
Aleko Eliashvili, the head of the non-governmental organization Tiflis
Hamqari (Union of Tbilisi Caretakers), contends that the Irao Magnat
Group was granted excessive powers: “This Austrian company was even
given municipal powers.” Under the agreement with Irao Magnat, the buyer
has the right to relocate the pavement, including sidewalks, pedestrian
zone and access for emergency vehicles. Tiflis Hamqari is reportedly
preparing a complaint on that issue. Eliashvili further complains about
the lack of transparency of the rehabilitation project and the delay in
commencement of reinforcement work.
Chief architect Manuchar Makhatadze says reinforcement work has been
delayed so far because it must be tied to the main project: “That is
internal planning, while fundamental transformation is a subject for the
future owner. Therefore, starting reinforcement work would have meant
wasting money.” Several families still reside in the buildings which are
the subject of ongoing negotiations. Reinforcement work will commence
after those negotiations are concluded. According to Makhatadze, the
Irao Magnat Group in the near future will begin rehabilitation of the
building that once housed the Literaturuli Sakartvelo newspaper offices;
that structure is now dilapidated and dangerous to enter. “The building
will retain its appearance,” Makhatadze asserts. “First, the foundation
will be reinforced. When we met a group or art historians, we explained
to them that wooden balconies and other elements decorating its façade
must be removed at this stage, cleaned and stored temporarily. The roof
must be removes because it leaks. After completion of the main
reinforcement works, the roof as well as the rehabilitated wooden
elements of the façade will be placed back on the structure.”
The Gudiashvili Square rehabilitation project is expected to be completed in four or five years.
This article first appeared in Tabula Georgian Issue # 85, published 30 January 2012.
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