შოთა ყავლაშვილი
* 28.01.1926 Tbilisi, Georgia
† 1995 Tbilisi
Architect
Shota Kavlashvili graduated from the Department of Architecture at the Polytechnic Institute of Georgia in 1948. He started to work as an architect in “TbilQalaqProekti” in 1950. In 1951 he became lead architect of the project. 1964 to 1994 he was leader of the 4th architectural studio of Tbilkalakproekti. In 1957-1970 he taught at the Department of Architecture of the Polytechnic Institute of Georgia.
Kavlashvili was a member of the Construction-Architectural Council of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR since 1967; The chief architect of Tbilisi Metro Division in 1968-1970. In 1970-1974 he was Chief architect of Tbilisi and the head of the main architectural-planning administration; In 1972-1974 he was a member of the presidium of the Chamber of Commerce of the Georgian SSR and an artist of the chamber.
Shota Kavlashvili was elected as a deputy of Tbilisi State Council and as a member of its executive council in 1980. He was appointed as Tbilisi’s Chief architect again in 1980 as well as the head of the Main architectural-planning administration. From 1982 to 1985 he was a deputy chairman of “SakhMsheni” of Georgian SSR.
After the Independence of Georgia, Kavlashvili moved to Poti, where in 1994 he was assigned as a City Deputy Mayor and the Chief Architect of the city.
Shota Kavlashvili was a Honoured Architect of Georgia (1972). He received Shota Rustaveli State Prize for the Baratashvili bridge (1981); the USSR State Prize (1987) and multiple diplomas and deeds from of USSR Union of Architects. He was awarded the certificate of Odessa (Ukraine) Culture Administration (1969); The diplomas and gold medals of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce (1970-1983); The Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1971); Honourable Deeds of “Sakhmsheni” and of Supreme Council of Georgia (1974); The Gold Medal of Exhibition Center of Achievements of National Economy (1985). Kavlashvili was an Honourable Citizen of Tbilisi (1985) and a member of the Eastern Countries International Academy of Architecture (1987).
Photos: Davit Morbedadze personal Archive, Teimuraz Kandelaki personal Archive, The national Parlamentary Library of Georgia
Main Projects
– Kindergarten, 13 Abashidze (former Barnov) Street, Tbilisi 1953 (Shota Kavlashvili, Givi Melkadze)
– Residential House, 19/21 Tchavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi 1953 (Shota Kavlashvili, Givi Melkadze)
– Masterplan of Saburtalo Residential district, Tbilisi 1956 (Shota Kavlashvili, Alexandre Bakradze, Davit Grdzelidze, Ilo Kavlashvili)
– Reconstruction project of the Chughureti Bridge (former Karl Marx Bridge), Tbilisi 1954 (Shota Kavlashvili, Givi Melkadze. Bridge engineer: Giorgi Kartsivadze)
– Residential House, 2 Uznadze (former Kamo) street, Tbilisi 1962 (Shota Kavlashvili, Givi Melkadze, Leo Kharashvili)
– The Wedding House, 2 Uznadze (former Kamo) street, Tbilisi 1965 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze. Sculptors: Giorgi Ochiauri, Irakli Ochiauri)
– The Baratashvili Bridge, Tbilisi 1965 (Shota Kavlashvili, Vladimer Kurtishvili. Bridge engineer: Giorgi Kartsivadze)
– Swimming Complex on Rike, Tbilisi, 1965 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze, Vladimer Kurtishvili) unrealised
– Series of 9-floor residential building projects, 1969 (Shota Kavlashvili, Solomon Katsitadze. Civil engineer: Rodames Ghudushauri)
– “Saqpuri” Residential house of the State Bread Backery, Chavchavadze ave. Tbilisi, 1970 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze. Civil engineer: Rodames Ghudushauri)
– Central Bus Station, Tbilisi 1970 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze, Vladimer Kurtishvili. Civil engineer: Rodames Ghudushauri. Artist: Zurab Tsereteli)
– Residential development and an administrative centre of Ortachala district, Tbilisi 1970 (Shota Kavlashvili, Merab Gugunava, Ramaz Kiknadze, Givi Metreveli) unrealised
– Exhibition Pavilion of Georgia, Paris 1970 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze, Givi Metreveli, Merab Gugunava)
– Administrative Building of “Soplsamteknika” in Ortatchala, Tbilisi 1973 (Shota Kavlashvili, Anzor Mikiashvili)
– A tunnel and tier under Metekhi rock, Tbilisi 1975 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze, Valeri Bakhtadze)
– Administrative Building, Isani, Tbilisi 1975 (Shota Kavlashvili, Anzor Mikiashvili)
– The reconstruction of “Gogilo” sulfur baths, Tbilisi 1977 (Shota Kavlashvili, Giorgi Abuladze)
– A 16-floor residential building on Saakdze square and Dolidze street, Tbilisi 1977 (Shota Kavlashvili, Solomon Katsitadze)
– The Aquatic Sports Complex (“Laguna Vere”), Tbilisi 1978 (Shota Kavlashvili, Ramaz Kiknadze, Guram Abuladze. Civil engineer: Rodames Ghudushauri. Aartist Nikoloz Ignatov)
– Tbilisi Museum of Ethnography and History, Rike, Tbilisi 1978 (Shota Kavlashvili, Avtandil Sumbulashvili) unrealised
– Museum of Archeology in Dighomi, Tbilisi 1979 (Shota Kavlashvili, Shota Gvantseladze. Sculptor: Tengiz Kikalishvili)
– Reconstruction-regeneration project of Elene Akhvlediani (former Kibalchich) rise development, Tbilisi 1980 (Group of architects of the Fourth Architectural Studio)
– Reconstruction-regeneration project of Baratashvili Street, Tbilisi 1981 (Group of architects of the Fourth Architectural Studio)
– “Berikoni” Restaurant, Tbilisi 1986 (Shota Kavlashvili, Shota Gvantseladze)
– Didi Dighomi masterplan, Tbilisi 1984 (Shota Kavlashvili, Bidzina Maminaishvili, Givi Shavdia, Merab Bolkvadze, Nodar Iremashvili)
– Complex of administrative buildings, (former Dzneladze) Street, Tbilisi 1984 (Shota Kavlashvili, Avtandil Sumbulashvili, V. Rtskhiladze) unrealised
– Development of Vakhushti Bagrationi street, Tbilisi 1987 (Shota Kavlashvili, Solomon Katsitadze, Akaki Kereselidze, I. Kandareli, I. Mikhailov) unrealised
– Competition Project of Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity, Tbilisi 1989 (Shota Kavlashvili, Viktor Jorbenadze)
– Hotel “Sheraton Grand Metekhi-Palace”, Tbilisi 1991 (Shota Kavlashvili, Shota Gvantseladze, Engin Chakman, Vladimer Kurtishvili)
Literature/Links
Janberidze, George: Shota Kavlashvili. Grandmasters of Georgian Architecture. Tbilisi 2016. ISBN-978-9941-0-8946-6