Krtsanisi Masterplan & Development Concept | MUA - Architecture & Placemaking

The site is a part of the territory of an ex- governmental residency in Tbilisi, Georgia. The district is called Krtsanisi and after Soviet times it is best known as a home for presidential residence, where ex-president of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze still resides. Currently the area is used as “District of Embassies” and high class private developments. Surroundings are occupied by perennial plants, which is seen as a prime value of the place.

The site with its evergreen perennial plantation has become a key drive for the project. It creates stipulation for appropriate action, which is oriented towards combination of built and context. Idea of proposed master plan flawlessly follows topography and with minimal interference transforms the Landscape into an absolute priority. By foreseeing the character of an existing relief and other natural/climate characteristics we have responded to project brief by preserving the Spirit of Place “Genius Loci”. Therefore the context adaptation through discourse with environment became a prime objective of this project.

Displacement of an ad hoc program distribution, reflected in proposed master plan are evoked by named project objectives. Careful analysis, which was an important part of performed design exercise showed that similar results could not have been achieved using initial distribution plan presented within project brief. Furthermore it could have caused devaluation of the surroundings and loss of its significance in terms of development investment. Notion of proposed land distribution is divided in two distinctive functional zones, recreational park and residential, which is subsequently divided into several parts. Greenest and most active part of the territory is in a west side of land plot, where existing park and greenery is kept intact with minor renovation / improvements for preserving the history of the place where countries leaders walked for several decades along with guests of worldwide importance. Renewed walking routs will logically integrate into landscapes natural structure, flawlessly following dynamics of existing greenery and evolving with forest’s geometry. This part of the plot will transform into public zone, which will mostly serve inhabitants of nearby loft apartments as their primary recreational area. Local roads scheme is planned as simple one way traffic, which circulates around entire territory with easy access to each and every building throughout. Existing road opposite British Embassy towards west has been transformed into Pedestrian Boulevard amid private residencies. Proposed master plan incorporates single private entrance and options of exit through shared territory. Programme distribution process made it clear that larger size buildings as loft apartment’s required noticeable amount of parking space. Cost effective and elegant solution was to raise the volumes, so that only insignificant underground works would be required. Mua's team has foreseen the potential of accommodating parking spaces, path through access/exit road and creating architecturally exciting space, which unifies existing landscape, with new volumes as recreational space for communal area. As a result following was achieved: parking is masked under the buildings; no additional roads required outside of building footprint; unified landscape and communal space for Loft Apartments.Proposed master plan is home for three distinctive housing types – Lofts, Private Houses and Town Houses. As for the Architecture, it can be described as simple and rational, based on repetitive and symmetrical forms. The aim was to foresee the space and its inhabitants as part of a single organism, rather than concentrate on creating an iconic forms. Overall achievement of the exercise was to preserve nature, not to distract the ghost spirit and keep the memories of the past unharmed.

Project Name: Krtsanisi mixed use development

Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Typology: Urban Development, Residential, Mixed-use

Area: 26 000 m2

Status: Completed Concept

Team: Nikoloz Gurabanidze, Salome Ghudushauri, Ekaterine Kankava, Boka Kilasonia, Tata Koiava, Mashiko Kokhreidze, Devi Kituashvili, Beko LEzhava, Nika Maisuradze, Eka Rekhviashvili, Gogiko Sakvarelidze, Leri Tsiskadze