National Olympic committee House

Client: National Olympic Committee House 

Program: Office l 2 300 sq.m 

Collaborators: Structural Engineering: Engenuiti, Progresi LLC l  Construction Management: Anagi LLC l  Photo: Nakanimamasakhlisi

Team: Viliana Guliashvili, Nikoloz Gurabanidze, Eka Japaridze, Nikoloz Japaridze, Devi Kituashvili, Ivane Ksnelashvili, Nika Maisuradze, Davit Tsanava, Gogiko Sakvarelidze

 

The site,  built at the end of the XIX century, is nestled in the historic quarter of Tbilisi. It became the residence of a communist party leader and had various governmental functions for decades. Although it was reconstructed after the 1960s, the building remained untouched until ownership was transferred to the Georgian National Olympic Committee House. 

GEONOC asked us to complete the restoration of the exterior, landscape design of surrounding gardens, museum design, and office spaces for over 100 members of staff. 

While not much could be changed from the outside, we had complete freedom to innovate and redo the inside. Hence, the exterior maintains its classical features, but the interior is firmly contemporary, demonstrating a definitive move away from Soviet architecture. 

Upon entrance, the first encounter is the unique fissured reception desk that gently directs you to the eye-catching maple-veneered staircase that links exhibition spaces and offices. The staircase permeates the whole structure, binds all functions, and strengthens the building's  identity. 

Reinforcing the structure at the base level gave way to creating significant openings in the walls of the upper floors. The seemingly endless twists and turns of the staircase weave through the building's four stories and suggest the limitless possibilities of human achievement. Perhaps the most striking feature is that the staircase itself becomes a wandering maze - once you start ascending, you land on a different place on each level.