Lazika Municipality

Client: Ministry Of Justice Georgia

Program: Office l 2 100 sq.m

Collaborators: Structural Engineer: Engenuiti, Progresi L.T.D. l Construction Management: Anagi LLC l Photo: Nakanimamasakhlisi

Team: David Dolidze, Nikoloz Japaridze, Nika Gurabanidze, Nika Maisuradze, Tata Koiava, Eka Kankava, Ketevan Vachnadze, Ivane Ksnelashvili, Eka rekhviashvili, Dato Tsanava, Soso Eliava, Salome Ghudushaur, Gogiko Sakvarelidze, Devi Kituashvili

 

Lazika - a new futuristic city yet to come into being, is located to the north of the Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Because of its high humidity and damp soil, the region is traditionally known for its stilt houses, which encourage ventilation from underneath and keep the structure dry. 

The brief was to create a one-of-a-kind municipal building with Public Service Hall, a Wedding Hall, and Offices. With this in mind, we aspired to create a sculpture-like structure made solely of steel and glass combinations. 

The form of the building comprises three steel and glass volumes supported by narrow columns. At a glance, the building is perceived as a series of floating objects. While separately these objects have a function of their own, together they create one whole, a monument that becomes a modern architectural benchmark for the new futuristic city. Yona Friedman's “floating city” was the central reference point for this project.

A distinct appearance was given to each functional volume; Near the building's base, we encounter the public hall - a rectilinear glass volume with transparent walls on all four sides, curved glass wedding hall is placed in the middle, while the offices, made of a perforated-steel box, are hovering overhead.  

Together with the engineering firm Engenuiti, we completed the building in just 168 days in mid-September 2012. Paul Grimes, director of Engenuiti, describes the structure: ‘The structural frame is constructed from steel, utilizing a series of raking steel columns to produce the dramatic floated upper platform. Challenges include the seismic conditions and the sympathetic employment of local skills to achieve what will be an iconic statement of architectural ambition’.