Batumi, Vaja-Pshavela Street N50 / Stepane Zubalashvili Street N32
Brief Description of the Building:
This three-story building, constructed between 1930 and 1935 according to a design by architect Klimenchenko, stands at the intersection of two streets. Its long plastered façades, painted a pale pinkish hue, are divided by slightly projecting narrow and wide risalits. The broad wall surfaces are devoid of any decoration and are lined with rows of rectangular openings. The central parts of the narrow risalits are glazed, allowing light into the entrance vestibules located behind them.
The corner façade is particularly interesting. It is stepped in design and meets the street intersection at an angled edge. The glazed central section is flanked by balconies stacked vertically, each with simple metal railings, and topped with a parapet that features the Soviet hammer and sickle emblem and the building’s construction years. Additional metal balconies are located at the outer edges of the façades.
The rear walls of the building have been chaotically covered with a mix of balcony and loggia-style extensions, added over time according to the residents’ tastes and preferences.
This building is one of Batumi’s notable examples of Constructivist architecture. It plays an important role in the spatial organization of both the two streets and the adjacent square.