Villa Tsavkisi | Vasily Gogidze

Inspired by nymphaea - ancient Greek and Roman monuments consecrated to the nymphs (especially those of springs) and the isle of Ogygia from Homer's Odyssey, the project seeks to transmit the imagery of classical antiquity through contemporary architectural language.

Ogygia - an island described in Homer's Odyssey, as the home of the nymph Calypso, the daughter of the Titan Atlas, is a place where Odysseus is detained by the nymph for seven years, wanting to marry him, and kept from returning to his home of Ithaca.

The Odyssey depicts Ogygia as an isle from afar over it a fragrance of cleft cedar and juniper wafted, where alder, poplar and sweet-smelling cypress grew, long-winged birds were wont to nest. Fountains four in a row were flowing with bright water hard by one another, irrigating soft meadows of blooming violets and parsley around.

Since nymphs are regarded as personifications of nature, architecture - a process, experience of a space in the course of time, is metaphorically presented as an act of nature - the tectonic force splitting the earth and sea from the depth of which the mythical white cliffy isle rises.

The replica of the statue of Venus de Milo is a reference to additional reading of the piece – the birth of Aphrodite from the sea foam.

The project implies creation of a single-family private residence with minimal footprint on the environment. The site is located in the Tsavkisi neighbourhood of Tbilisi Mtatsminda District, Georgia. With an area of 1001 sq.m., it is a sloped terrain plot. The site borders on the southeast side with the road, and with other parcels on the other sides. Currently it contains no plants except wild grass.

Entrances for both pedestrians and vehicles are placed from the road side. There is a ramp for cars, the surface of which consists of grass water-permeable pavers. It is planned to partially terrace the plot. The grating metal staircase connecting the terraces is also water-permeable, similarly to the garden pergola with the wooden slatted floor and louvered roof. Most of the site area (800.6 sq.m.) is reserved for greenery which includes: grass cover, grass pavement, decorative deciduous and coniferous shrubs and trees. The yard also contains a pool with a fountain.

The building occupies four floor levels. The zero mark corresponds to +1028.60 m above sea level. At the -2.50 mark, there is a garage, W.C., technical space, two storage rooms. Living space, kitchen-dining room, laundry, wardrobe, bathroom and balcony are located at ±0.00 mark. At the +3.30 are situated three bedrooms, three bathrooms, wardrobe and two balconies. A bedroom, study, two bathrooms, wardrobe and a terrace with bar are placed at the last mark of +6.20. The rooms are interconnected by corridors and staircases.

High-quality decorative plaster is used for facade cladding. White aluminium frame glazing open up the space towards the vista, likewise the glass railings of the balconies and terraces also embellished with ornamental plants. Stainless steel is employed for other railings and functional details.