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Batumi, Odysseas Dimitriadis Street No. 1
Brief description of the monument:
The Batumi Art Center building was constructed in 1959 as the House of Culture for the workers of the Batumi Oil Refinery, based on a design by architect G. Erkomayshvili. Between 2010 and 2011, the building underwent significant reconstruction under architect V. Khmaladze, altering both its exterior appearance and interior spaces.
Set back from the street, the building is fronted by a small square and pool. The main façade, most significantly affected by the reconstruction, features a stepped design descending from the central part toward the edges. The central section prominently displays two large overlapping arches filled with glass panes. The façade reveals an attempt to harmonize modern architectural materials (metal tubular columns, extensive glass surfaces) with decorative motifs borrowed from historical architecture (carved decorative panels, ornamental window detailing). This stylistic blending is evident on the side and rear façades as well.
Inside, the center houses a spacious vestibule, a large auditorium accommodating 1,100 spectators, an exhibition gallery located on the third floor, smaller concert halls, and other functional spaces.
The Art Center remains one of the most significant Soviet-era buildings in Batumi. Its reconstruction is a notable example of the ambitious architectural projects undertaken in the city during the period of extensive urban redevelopment between 2007 and 2012.
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