Several media outlets in Georgia have reported that one of the most recognizable, although controversial, buildings in Tbilisi, the Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall designed by architect Massimiliano Fuksas, may be dismantled. The pipe-shaped structure is located in the capital’s Rhike Park.
The Italian architect completed the hall in 2012 under President Mikheil Saakashvili. As such, the building is widely associated with the previous Georgian administration. Although the complex was intended to become a center for contemporary art, it has never been used for its original purpose and has remained empty.
The «pipes» have changed hands multiple times since 2012 and were eventually transferred to the company Rike Dom. According to Novosti v Gruzii and Ekho Kavkaza, which cite the cabinet formed by the Georgian Dream party and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze personally, authorities have officially allowed the new owners to redevelop the site with a carte blanche for replacing the «pipes» with a hotel.
«I am not an architect, but I am convinced that such an ugly building should not stand in our beautiful city,» Kobakhidze said.
Tbilisi residents have mixed feelings about the «pipes.» On the one hand, many view it as an example of futuristic architecture. On the other hand, its unusual shape and appearance evoke uneasy reactions, some say. Still, the «pipes» have become one of the most iconic landmarks in Tbilisi.
