Cinema Center

Tbilisi, Georgia

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Cinema Center

Tbilisi, Georgia

Firm

X-Architecture

Type

Cultural › Hall/Theater Cultural Center

STATUS

Concept

YEAR

2029

SIZE

300,000 sqft - 500,000 sqft

BUDGET

$50M - 100M

A competition-winning proposal in Tbilisi transforms one of the former Soviet Union’s most prominent film studio complexes into a contemporary mixed-use destination, combining the restoration of a protected cinematic landmark with a high-performance tower shaped through computational design and environmental analysis.
The historic pavilion of the former Tbilisi Cinema Studio, played a defining role in Georgia’s cinematic and cultural history. Until the 1970s, this site was famous for hosting one of the biggest and most important film studios in the Soviet Union. Designed in an avant-garde style, its composition combines modernist spatial principles with decorative and formal references to medieval Georgian architecture, including motifs inspired by Svanetian towers, massive wall surfaces, narrow window openings, and layered parapets. At the center of the complex is the original 18-meter-high filming pavilion with curved arched gallery that marks the prominent corner of the site, creating an elevated open terrace overlooking the intersection, while a five-arched passage connects the pavilion to the adjacent administrative building.
Decades of insufficient maintenance and technical deterioration left the structure unstable and functionally obsolete. The competition proposal sought not only to preserve the historic pavilion, but also to redefine the site as a contemporary public and cultural destination. The design approach was based on the principle that contrast can generate new perspectives.
The restored pavilion retains its original structural and spatial identity while being reinforced and adapted for flexible future use. Interior interventions were designed as temporary and modular elements, allowing spaces to evolve over time and accommodate exhibitions, performances, cultural events, and public programs. The Idea of the space was to keep it flexible and future proof, so everything inside is temporary and possible to move in and out.

The new high-rise component was developed through advanced digital workflows, including generative modeling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and solar analysis. Hundreds of massing variations were tested to optimize environmental performance, minimize wind impact, and improve daylight access across the surrounding urban context. Recessed terraces and sculpted edges were shaped to reduce turbulence at pedestrian level and create comfortable outdoor environments, including elevated gardens and public plazas. Every formal gesture within the tower responds to performance-based criteria, including airflow optimization, façade efficiency, solar orientation, privacy, and panoramic views.
Material selection reinforces the contrast between the restored historic structure and the contemporary addition. The tower is clad in glass fiber reinforced concrete (GRC) panels with stainless steel detailing that emphasizes its horizontal proportions, while sheltered exterior areas incorporate warm Iroko wood cladding to create a softer public experience. A fritted glass façade contributes to energy efficiency and visual privacy.
By combining adaptive reuse with computationally informed architecture, the project establishes a new relationship between preservation and contemporary urban development. The intervention not only safeguards a significant cultural monument, but also reconnects the site with the public, transforming a dormant film studio into an active civic destination that reflects both the historical legacy and future aspirations of Tbilisi.

Fact Sheet
Project name: Cinema Center
Location: Queen Tamar Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia
Status: Competition-Winning Proposal (planning)
Type: Mixed-use
GFA: 36,000 m²
Design team: X - Architecture
Facade materials:
– GRC panels
– powder-coated stainless steel
– Iroko panels in sheltered areas
– Low-iron double-glazed with Ceramic frit
Environmental tools: Generative model, computational fluid dynamics, Solar access/radiation analysis
Visualization: @paralel.studio
Urban context: Dense, high-traffic avenue with an existing cultural structure
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xarchitecture
Website: https://x-architecture.co.uk/

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Cinema Center

Tbilisi, Georgia

Cinema Center

Tbilisi, Georgia

Product Spec Sheet

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