Representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and its advisory organizations, ICOMOS and ICCROM, held a meeting with Georgian officials to review the architectural concept of a planned riverside recreational park in Mtskheta.
The meeting took place at the Ministry of Infrastructure of Georgia and was attended by Infrastructure Minister Revaz Sokhadze, deputy ministers, representatives of the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia and architects from the design company Artstudio Project.
Officials discussed the concept for a recreational park planned on the right bank of the Aragvi River near the Teatron area of Mtskheta. The project is based on the winning design from an architectural competition announced by the Municipal Development Fund. Because the development site lies within the buffer zone of the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta, the project must undergo additional coordination with local authorities and cultural heritage institutions.
The next stages of development require consultations with the municipality, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, as well as consideration of recommendations from UNESCO and its advisory bodies.
During the meeting, Minister Sokhadze thanked UNESCO representatives for their work in protecting Georgia’s cultural heritage and stressed that preservation remains a priority for the government.
The minister stated that development projects in historically sensitive areas must ensure that the authenticity and historical value of heritage sites are fully preserved, while also allowing for sustainable urban development.
Architects from Artstudio Project presented the main concept and spatial planning solutions for the park.
The presentation addressed:
- theurban morphology of the surrounding area
- transport and pedestrian connections
- theexisting landscape and environmental characteristics
- management of natural resources
- and thehistorical and social context of the site
The project envisions the creation of a 70-hectare riverside recreational park, featuring:
- landscaped green spaces
- pedestrian and cycling paths
- rehabilitation of the Teatron structure
- multiple public-use zones and recreational areas
The park is expected to serve both residents and visitors of Mtskheta as well as nearby Tbilisi, offering a large public green space along the river.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed that UNESCO will conduct additional review of the project details before issuing final recommendations.
The information was released by the Ministry of Infrastructure.
