Batumi, Vakhtang Gorgasali Street N32 / Konstantine Gamsakhurdia Street N36 / King Pharnavaz Street N45
Brief Description of the Building:
Built in 1907, this two-story residential building spans three streets and encloses a spacious courtyard. The façades are made of exposed terracotta-colored brickwork. Some sections of the first floor were later plastered and painted in varying tones. The first floor facing Gamsakhurdia Street was originally designed for commercial use, with wide rectangular openings, while the wings along the side streets and the second floor were residential.
The façades feature elements characteristic of the architectural styles of the time and display a Classicist style on all three street fronts. The second floor has rows of rectangular windows—some topped with horizontal pediments (sandriks), others with small triangular gables. Suspended metal balconies of various sizes project from the second floor. The floors are divided by profiled stringcourses, and the façades are topped with stepped cornices.
There are three entrance halls, each with carved wooden double doors, along with several smaller entry doors. The entrance ceilings are decorated with concentric plaster rings. Original cast-iron staircases with railings have been preserved. From King Pharnavaz Street, a decorative wrought-iron gate marks the tunnel entrance to the courtyard. The tunnel ceiling was originally adorned with decorative plasterwork.
Originally, the courtyard featured open wooden gallery-style balconies, much of which is now walled in or enclosed with glass in various styles and materials. Several attic-level mansards have also been added.
This building is a typical example of early Batumi residential architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, constructed with terracotta brick, characteristic of the city s historic neighborhoods.
