A historic apartment in the Vake district

The Vake District in Tbilisi

Vake is considered one of the most prestigious and greenest districts of Tbilisi. Its active development began in the first half of the 20th century, especially in the 1930s–1950s, when the city began expanding toward the western slopes of Mount Mtatsminda. The name "Vake" itself in Georgian means "plain" or "flat place," which quite accurately describes the geography of this part of the city.

From an architectural point of view, Vake is interesting because you can see several eras at once. Along Ilya Chavchavadze Avenue, buildings of the Stalinist period with massive facades, columns, and decorative elements have been preserved. A bit further are residential blocks from the 1960s–1980s, built in the style of Soviet Modernism, as well as more modern residential complexes.

A special place in the district is occupied by Vake Park — one of the largest city parks, laid out in the 1940s. It became the center of the district's social life and an important element of the urban planning composition.

Today, Vake combines architecture of the Soviet period, modern buildings, a university environment, and green spaces, thanks to which it remains one of the most comfortable and prestigious districts of the city.

A Historical Apartment in Vake

Our recent find is a historical apartment in the Vake district. Look at what a beautiful apartment it is — exquisite furniture and a huge space! (200 sq. m.) everything is historical and unique.

Connoisseurs might ask how this is possible, since this district is relatively new. And you would be right. It is an amazing fact that this apartment was decorated with murals during the Soviet era. We are used to the idea that the Bolsheviks destroyed everything associated with the bourgeoisie, including painting over murals in entrance halls and apartments. Sometimes residents themselves conserved the murals in their flats.

But this apartment in Vake is an exception. This is the second time in our practice that we have encountered such a fact. Both have the same story. In the 1950s, a group of artists came to Tbilisi to conduct restoration in the burned Shota Rustaveli Theater. Apparently, they stayed in Tbilisi and took several commissions. Unfortunately, no one knows their names.

Historical Interiors of Tbilisi

Such interiors are a rare reminder of what historical Tbilisi apartments looked like in the early 20th century. Currently, our collection includes about thirty such historical apartments. Each of them holds unsolved stories, extraordinary pieces of furniture, and unique interiors.

We try very hard to gain access to historical apartments — some amaze with their luxury, while others, though simpler, have also preserved their architectural aesthetics. To date, we have managed to visit about 15 such apartments and document their stories. Just as many remain on our list, but access to them has not yet been obtained. There are also two apartments in Batumi that are waiting for their turn.

Similar historical apartments can be seen during our signature tours of Tbilisi architecture.