Ministry of Transportation Building, Georgia
The former Ministry of Transportation Building in Tbilisi, Georgia, is a striking example of Communist design.
Architects George Chakhava and Zurab Jalaghania designed the building for the Ministry of Highway Construction of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR). Construction was completed in 1975.
The 18-storey building is notable for its unusual design which gives the impression of giant concrete blocks having been piled on top of one another at random. Built on a steep slope, three of the interlocking blocks are oriented on an east-west axis, while two are oriented on a north-south axis. The vertical circulation elements – stairs and lifts – are contained within three cores from which the rest of the structure hangs.
The harsh concrete façade and geometric form was inspired by the theories of the Russian constructivists, as well as the Brutalism movement and the Japanese Metabolists. Following an architectural concept known as the Space City method, parts of the building are raised above the ground, allowing the landscape to grow around and below it.
In 2007, the building was acquired by the Bank of Georgia who converted it into their headquarters, undertaking a major renovation, and installing a new glass cube entrance. In 2007, it was given Immovable Monument status under the National Monuments Act.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Abandoned movie theatres in Russia.
- Building of the week series.
- CCTV Headquarters.
- Constructivist architecture.
- Fuji TV Building, Tokyo.
- Habitat 67.
- La Grande Arche.
- Manchester Civil Justice Centre.
- Megastructure.
- Metabolism.
- Nakagin Capsule Tower.
- Owen Hatherley - Landscapes of Communism.
- Palace of Culture and Science.
- Robot Building, Bangkok.
- Scottish Parliament Building.
- Spomeniks.
- The Bierpinsel, Berlin.
- Unusual building design of the week.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
BG 50 & VDI 2035 – your questions answered.
Types of domestic heating systems.
Will the way we heat homes change when winter comes ?
Extended reality in a post-pandemic world.
Can XR technology be leveraged in design & construction?
Or are you capping.
STEM ambassadors needed for ICE CityZen award.
Digital gaming competition for UK students aged 16 to 18.
Heritage protection in England vs Australia.
Fire doors and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.
Three-quarters of fire doors fail inspections
UN International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.
The role of geoparks, biospheres and world heritage sites.
BSRIA conference 2022, June 23.
Just one month to go ! Find out more here.
Restoring Broadbent’s Bath House
A new gallery for the University of Huddersfield.
Corruption in the construction industry.
What will it take to stop it ?
To celebrate world bee day 2022 !
Just one month until the changes to part L come into effect.
Not forgetting part F and the new part overheating part O.
Heat Pump demand rises by one quarter.
As energy prices jump up in cost.
With people in the UK from Ukraine.
Industry leader Steve Murray takes on role.
An abundant and versatile building material.
How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
600,000 heat pump installations targeted per year by 2028.
Cost planning, control and related articles on DB.
Helping prevent those unwanted outcomes.
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?