Building at Akhmed Melashvili Street N10 / Zviad Gamsakhurdia Street N6, Batumi
Brief Description of the Building:
This building, constructed in the 1880s, was originally known as the Hotel De France based on French-Russian inscriptions found on the facade. The first floor of the building housed stables and a restaurant, while the upper floors were dedicated to hotel rooms. The first floor also included one of the first tobacco shops and a store run by Balavashvili. The hotel s owner, Kakhiani, also had a printing press, which is why numerous postcards depicting the hotel have survived.
The two-story corner building, with an attic floor completing its full volume, faces Zviad Gamsakhurdia Street. The building is made of brick and decorated with simple classical elements in plaster. There is a profiled cornice separating the floors. Both floors are divided by rectangular windows. Most of the windows facing the street are framed with smooth borders. A horizontal belt runs between the floors.
The first floor features a covered balcony in front of the restaurant, occupying the entire wide sidewalk. The left side of the building is obscured by a later addition to the second floor, which conceals the original design. As a result, only part of the original smooth window frames can be seen. The side facade facing P. Melikishvili Street is treated with a recessed plane on the first floor, while the second floor is divided by decorative pilasters with high bases. A large portion of the side facade is covered with metal plates to prevent rainwater accumulation.
This building, with its scale and artistic design, fits well within the historical context of the surrounding urban fabric.