Calling all architects and developers:
Can you help revitalise historic Tbilisi square?

Architects and infrastructure development firms worldwide are being given a chance to bring new life to Tbilisi's historic Lado Gudiashvili Square.

Creative businesses are being urged to apply for a new state tender to reconstruct, renew and introduce artistic and hospitality spaces to the quaint residential area near central Tbilisi’s Freedom Square.

Buildings on the square represent stories from the rich cultural history of the capital. Photo by Tbilisi Development Fund.

The tender focused on two locations in Gudiashvili Square – a spot at Abesadze St was earmarked as a space for a new artistic gallery, while two locations on Abo Tbileli St envisaged the construction of a hotel, cafe and parking zone.

The restoration of Gudiashvili Square was part of a larger Government project to develop the historic area of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

The tender called for projects of "new and modern" architecture serving cultural and public designation to help revitalise the square.

At the same time, the winning project would be the one that was most suitable and sympathetic to the surrounding historic-style of architecture in Gudiashvili Square, officials said.

The square represents the architectural style of both residential and public buildings of the 19h Century Tbilisi. Photo by Tbilisi Development Fund.

Submissions will be accepted separately for the 175,000 GEL (about $71,200/€65,400*) project for the Abesadze St area and the 186,000 GEL (about $75,700/€69,500*) bid for the two Abo Tbileli locations, offered by the Tbilisi Development Fund.

Tender submissions will open on March 16 and close on March 21.

Representing one of Tbilisi's iconic historical sites, the Gudiashvili Square was given different names in various eras.

It has been known with its current name - after celebrated 20th Century late Georgian painter Lado Gudiashvili - since 1988.

Initial plans for the Square date back to medieval times. The earliest of the still-present buildings that surround the Square from a number of converging streets were built in the second half of the 19th Century.

Buildings adjacent to the square are lined up from a number of converging streets. Photo by Tbilisi Development Fund.

The buildings in the Square represented the capital's rich cultural history – one of the houses served as Imperial Russia's headquarters for Caucasia in the 19th Century.

It later represented editorial offices of the popular literary newspaper Literaturuli Sakartvelo, which established in 1931.

Detailed information about both tender opportunities, as well as additional documentation, can be found on the State Procurement Agency pages for the Abesadze and Abo Tbileli projects.

* Currencies are as of today's National Bank of Georgia exchange rate.