Tbilisi is the place where Europe and Asia, the Orient and the Occident have historically come into contact. This is especially evident in the architecture throughout the city. Patios lined with tracery balconies and stained glass galleries, hide away behind European facades. The typical house a la Tbilisi appeared back in the earlier half of the 19th century and came to contain both European and Oriental elements, still standing out as a piece of original local architecture. This route will show you around Tbilisian eclecticism scattered throughout its buildings and streets.
1| 22, DADIANI STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Built in 1905, the house stands out with its harmonious combination of a European facade and wooden balconies.
2| 18, ASATIANI STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Designed and built by architect Korneli Tatischev as his own dwelling house, it incorporates Islamic architectural themes and traditional open wooden balconies overlooking the yard.
3| 28, L. ASATIANI STREET.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Former girls’ grammar school was built in 1903 by engineer Rotinov in neo-gothic style.
4| 21/24, G. TABIDZE STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Three-storey residential house built in 1896 and representing an interesting piece of renaissance and baroque eclectics. The house has a richly decorated entrance.
5| 27/17, ASATIANI STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Built in 1908, this two-storey house is one of the most interesting samples of pseudo-Moresque orientalism in Tbilisi. It stands out with its wedge-shaped embrasures, stalactite friezes, an eight-point star and stylized ornaments in the stone balconies and the wooden elements in the glass galleries overlooking the yard. The entrance is also richly decorated in Moresque style and has beautiful arches and polychrome ornaments. The house was designed by architect Ghazar Sarksyan.
6| 11, KIKODZE STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Referred to as Miov’s House, the building was designed by Gabriel Ter-Melikov and constructed in 1914, standing out as a fusion of traditional and renaissance motifs.
7| 6, KIKODZE STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Residential house built in 1906 with design of famous architect Aleksander Ozerov. The house was owned by brothers Dolukhanov and is one of the most exemplary modernistic pieces in Tbilisi, with traces of neo-romanticism, and gothic elements on its facade.
8| 4, CHONKADZE SREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE.
A modernistic architecture house built in 1903 and designed by architect Mikheil Ohanjanov. Thanks to its architectural features and advantageous position it has an accentuating role in the current development of Sololaki district: the house stands on a high terrace and connects to the street with a stair-case carved in a tunnel through the cliff. There is also a sad legend associated with the house: the owners’ daughter died at a young age and the parents built a tower on top of the house to overlook her grave on the other bank of the Mtkvari.
9| 11, TCHONKADZE ST.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
The building is an exemplary piece of stylistic diversity, standing out for its Islamic features, and served as the residence for Iranian consul Mirza Reza Khan during 1889-1894.
10| 12, TCHONKADZE STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Built in 1914 the house is an interesting building of modernistic style and was designed by Architect Mikheil Ohanjanov with collaboration of Architect Petre Kolchin. Owned by brothers Bozardjiants, the house received the 2nd Best Facade of the Year award from the City Council in 1914 (1st prize was not granted to any building).
11| 6, INGOROKVA STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Built in two stages: main part constructed based on a design of 1887, and added a two-storey residential outhouse instead of the gate in 1901. Both designed by Shimkevich.
12| 20, INGOROKVA STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Two-storey residential house built in modernistic style in 1914. Designed by architect Mikheil Neprintsev, the house was one of the nominees for the Best Facade of the Year award in 1915 organized by Tbilisi town council.
13| 16, RUSTAVELI AVENUE.
OFFICER’S HOUSE
Former Tbilisi ‘Circle’ was built in 1916 and bears resemblance to forms characteristic to European Neoclassicism. The rounded corner balconies on the second floor are decorated with caryatids designed by famous Georgian architect, Iakob Nikoladze. The building was also known for Café Argonauts’ Boat located in its basement since 1918. The café was painted by famous artists Zdanevich, Gudiashvili and Bazhbeuk-Melyaov.
14| 13, RUSTAVELI AVENUE
MARRIOTT TBILISI HOTEL
Former Hotel Majestic designed by Alexander Ozerov was built in 1911. In 1915 Gabriel Ter-Melikov – an architect from Tbilisi – added the final touch. The building stands out for its Renaissance-Baroque forms. The hotel was restored from the severe damages it received through the Tbilisi War of 1991-92.
15| 31, ATONELI STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Former hotel London was designed by Architect Otto Jakob Simonson and owned by Aleksandre Zubalashvili. The hotel was opened in 1875 and functioned as one of the luxurious spots in the city through the 1900s. Its visitors at various times included an English scholar and translator of the Knight in the Panther’s Skin Marjory Wardrop and Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. The hotel had a casino frequented by famous Georgian writer and public figure Ilia Chavchavadze. On 28 June 1890 the hotel hosted the first public hearing session of the phonograph invented by Thomas Alva Edison.
Zacharia Paliashvili Opera and Ballet State Academic Theatre. 25, Rustaveli Avenue.
Designed by Korneli Tatischev and built in 1897. Surrounded by a small garden. The baroque-eclectic facade is accentuated by a wooden ornamented balcony, and a richly decorated entrance.
16| 25, RUSTAVELI AVENUE.
ZAKARIA PALIASHVILI STATE ACADEMIC THEATRE OF OPERA AND BALLET
Designed by Korneli Tatischev and built in 1897. Surrounded by a small garden. The baroque-eclectic facade is accentuated by a wooden ornamented balcony, and a richly decorated entrance.
1| 93, AGHMASHENEBELI AVENUE.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Three-storey residential house with a garret on top of the risalit was built in 1904. The building is an example of renaissance-baroque eclectics and contains modernistic elements. The entrance is richly decorated and painted.
2| 39, M. TSINAMDZGHVRISHVILI STREET.
RESIDENTIAL HOUSE
Built at the dawn of the 20th c. at the design of Architect Pavle Zurabian, the house with an abundantly painted entrance is a particularly appealing modernistic building and represents a combination of two identical three-storey houses.