Bildungs- und Informationszentrum für Schutzgebiete in Tiflis (GE) / Design of the Protected Areas (PA) Education and Information Centre in Tbilisi

The Jury considers this submission an ambitious, very appealing design with already relatively well developed aspects of building technology, energy concept, use of space. Main part of the building are the two underground floors. Visibility only of the ground floor (with used roof area). Around 770 m² + roof terrace (total 840 m²).
This project surprised the Jury in a positive way. By referring to historic construction methods and typologies, its materials and the experiences of its inhabitants, the design very easily manages to find the midpoint between tradition and contemporary architecture and manages to defend it with interesting documents. The project also achieves the interior-exterior relationship through green vaults, skylights and glazed volumes. We see great interest, broad and simple accesses in addition to distribution and circulation spaces that are reduced to a minimum and can be part of the exhibition itself.
We also value very positively the integration of the workshop room in places of architectural interest and in direct contact with the exhibition.
Due to the large underground part, the main structure of this project will have to be in reinforced, waterproof concrete (lower floors) and probably relatively expensive, just as the necessary building infrastructure, which is energy-efficient (basic data for calculation are given and show the consistency, although the specifics refer more to housing program than to exhibition). This in turn will likely reduce the operational cost of the building.
The design requires a foundation of more than 8 m below the surface of the building - soil analysis and groundwater level still have to confirm the feasibility, as groundwater pressure poses a risk to functional rooms and leads to increased investment costs (and also to an increased demand in the quality of construction).
The design of the ground parts of the buildings are rather modest which integrates the building well into Rike Park, but doesn’t give it the envisaged presence and attractiveness before entering.
Suggested improvements:
- Conduct groundwater level survey before commissioning the project
- affordability needs to be proven in terms of investment and maintenance.
- Visitor and staff circulation is not separated.
- Offices are located underground and has no daylight
- Public Workshop and Technical Workshop are combined. Technical Workshop is not related to the exhibition area.
- Elaborate on appearance above ground and presence in Rike Park.