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The planned demolition of the Rike Park Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall in Tbilisi has drawn criticism from residents, tourists and the Italian architects who designed the building. Known locally as the Rike Tubes, the 10,000-square-metre complex was built between 2011 and 2012 under the government of former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili but was never fully completed and has remained largely unused. The building became a prominent feature of Tbilisi’s historic skyline and a symbol of the previous government’s pro-European outlook. Demolition began in late July and is expected to continue until December.
The modernist arts complex in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is being demolished despite objections from some residents and its Italian architects, who have criticised the decision to remove the distinctive structure.
Known as the Rike Tubes, the Rike Park Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall was constructed between 2011 and 2012 during the government of former president Mikheil Saakashvili. The building was part of a broader push under the previous administration to modernise parts of Tbilisi and present a more contemporary image of the capital.
After the Georgian Dream party came to power in 2012, the complex was never fully completed and has remained largely unused. Its distinctive tubular design made it highly visible against Tbilisi’s historic centre, where Orthodox churches with conical roofs and 19th-century buildings dominate the skyline.
The building consequently became associated with the previous government’s pro-European approach, while its long period of limited use also led some residents to view it as an example of money being spent without delivering a functioning public facility.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticised the appearance of the structure earlier this year, saying that he did not consider the design appropriate for Tbilisi.
The city’s Architecture Service approved the demolition in June, and work began at the end of July. According to a city document, the demolition is scheduled to be completed by December 25.
Some residents who never particularly liked the building have still opposed its removal. Elene Tsetskhladze said that while she did not personally like its appearance, she believed the government should focus on construction rather than demolition. She also said the money being spent on removing the structure could instead be used for measures such as free meals for schoolchildren and medicines for people who cannot afford them.
The demolition has also attracted interest from tourists, with visitors taking photographs of the building while it remains standing. The complex covers around 10,000 square metres and has become one of the recognisable modern structures in the city.
The building was designed by Italian architectural firm Fuksas Studio, led by architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. Massimiliano Fuksas said the architects had received thousands of emails from people expressing support for the building and describing it as an iconic part of Tbilisi.
The architects said they had not been informed by the government that demolition was imminent and have found the decision difficult to accept. Massimiliano Fuksas argued that buildings and the memories associated with them cannot simply be removed, while Doriana Fuksas said that history could not be erased in the same way.
Maqro Property, the parent company of Rike Dom, which owns the complex and requested its demolition, had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Source Reuters
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