Shota Rustaveli University Building, Batumi (Egnate Ninoshvili Street N33 / Rustaveli Avenue N4)
Brief Description:
The building of Shota Rustaveli University in Batumi was constructed between 1899-1903 based on the project of Polish architect Aleksander Shimkevich. Originally, the building was intended to house the Batum Boys Gymnasium. The idea of opening the gymnasium in Batumi was proposed in 1893, and the city s mayor, Luka Asatiani, traveled to St. Petersburg to obtain permission for its construction. The design of the gymnasium was created by military engineer Sedenikov, and it was named Mikhail’s Gymnasium.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the gymnasium was one of the most luxurious buildings in Batumi, featuring marble stairs and columns, a spacious hall, and a church on the premises. Over the years, it transformed from a technical school to a pedagogical institute, and in 1990, it gained university status.
Currently, Shota Rustaveli University occupies an entire city block. The original building, located on Egnate Ninoshvili Street, faces the Seafront Boulevard. The structure is three stories tall and very long, with the middle section marked by a risalit that protrudes forward, standing taller than the adjacent sections.
In the risalit area, the windows on the first and third floors are semi-circular arches, while the second floor windows are rectangular. The windows on the side sections are the opposite: arched windows on the second floor, and rectangular windows on the other floors. The main entrance is located at the center of the risalit, flanked by small paired columns and shaded by a half-cylindrical porch.
The primary decorative technique used for the façade is the alternating raised and recessed flat surfaces, painted in white and light blue, creating an impression of abundant décor, although there is no intricate carving. Between 1977-1982, a new building was added to the structure, facing Rustaveli Avenue, which is a typical, utilitarian Soviet-era construction. In 2006, a large colored glass screen was added to the new building, covering its façade.
There is a large, two-part courtyard between the old and new buildings. The Shota Rustaveli University building is one of the most prominent structures in Batumi due to its historical significance, artistic value, scale, and urban role.
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