Meeting with UNESCO representatives

In attendance of the meeting was Minister of Infrastructure Revaz Sokhadze, Executive Director of the Municipal Development Fund (MDF) Beka Urushadze, Deputy Ministers and representatives of the architectural company “Artstudio Project”.

 

In the course of the meeting was discussed the architectural concept of the recreation park, scheduled to be arranged on the right bank of Aragvi River in Mtskheta, in the vicinity of Theatron. The above-referenced concept is the winner of an architectural competition, announced by MDF.

 

Since the project site is located in the buffer zone of historical monuments of Mtskheta, further development of the project requires coordination/agreement with the Municipality, Ministry of Culture of Georgia, and the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation (NACHP), as well as consideration of the recommendations of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and its advisory bodies.

 

The Minister of Infrastructure thanked UNESCO representatives for their work in the field of cultural heritage protection in Georgia and noted that it is important for the state the cultural heritage monuments to be preserved and developed so as their authenticity and historical value to be fully maintained. As Minister noted, coordination with the Ministry of Culture and the NACHP, as well as consideration of UNESCO recommendations will be of special significance in the course of the project development process.

 

Representatives of “Artstudio Project” familiarized the members of the Mission with the main concept of the project and scheduled spatial solutions. The presentation covered the urban morphology of the site, transport and pedestrian connections, features of the existing environment and landscape, natural resource management issues, and the historical and social context of the area.

 

The project envisages the arrangement of a 70-hectare recreational park on the riverside, which will combine the spaces for various purposes, a network of pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes, the rehabilitation of the Theatron, and the development of the landscape areas. The park will serve the local residents and guests of Mtskheta and Tbilisi Cities.

 

At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed that UNESCO would further discuss the project details for the release of final recommendations.