President Palace

The Presidential Palace in Tbilisi, also known as the Avlabari Residence or simply the Residence in Avlabari—named after the district in which it stands—is a structure that sparks mixed emotions among those who gaze upon it. Towering above the historic architecture of the Old Town, the palace strikes a curious balance between grandeur and dissonance. On one hand, it exudes modern majesty; on the other, it appears oddly misplaced, clashing with the familiar visage of Tbilisi and starkly highlighting the contrast between opulence and the modest, often crumbling homes of ordinary citizens nearby.

Since early 2019, the Presidential Palace in Avlabari has no longer served as the official residence of the President of Georgia. Today, the building is used for ceremonial functions, official receptions, and significant state events. The active presidential residence is now located on the opposite bank of the Mtkvari River, in the Mtatsminda district, at 24 G. Atoneli Street. This more reserved mansion, constructed by a member of the noble Georgian Orbeliani family with personal funds, offers a striking contrast in both scale and style.

Initially, plans under President Mikheil Saakashvili envisioned the transformation of an existing administrative building into the presidential residence. However, after a detailed inspection, a decision was made to demolish the structure and construct an entirely new palace. This pivot significantly inflated both the estimated costs and the timeline for the project. Construction began shortly after Saakashvili’s inauguration as Georgia’s third president in 2004, with the first administrative block completed and operational by mid-2008.

The construction company Evrasi was originally contracted to lead the project, but by 2005, financial disputes led the company to withdraw. Other firms subsequently took over the development of the complex.

Yet another controversy emerged when the architectural design, originally authored by Georgian architect Giorgi Batiashvili since 2004, was altered. In 2007, Italian architect Michele De Lucchi was brought in to rework the building’s design, incorporating his own vision. Batiashvili later publicly stated that the project had been handed over without his knowledge and that authorship had been transferred unlawfully. Following the completion of the Presidential Palace, De Lucchi was commissioned by Saakashvili to design the Bridge of Peace, a pedestrian structure officially opened in May 2010.

The Avlabari Residence was built on the initiative of President Mikheil Saakashvili between 2004 and 2009. Its grand opening was a high-profile affair, attended by approximately 1,600 guests, including members of parliament, foreign diplomats, and figures from the cultural and artistic spheres.

The concept behind the Presidential Palace was to present a bold new vision of modern Georgia. The classical monumental style of an administrative government building was enriched with Greco-Roman, Renaissance, and Neoclassical elements.

The four-story palace is meticulously symmetrical, with portico columns and rows of identical windows emphasizing its architectural order. The core of the structure consists of three full floors, with a fourth level confined to the eastern wing, which subtly recedes from the external facade of the main building. The western side features rooftop terraces that add depth and texture.

Originally, Batiashvili’s design called for three pediments atop the porticos, but only the central one was retained. It now displays a high-relief Georgian coat of arms above a mosaic frieze inscribed in the Georgian language.

A striking glass dome crowns the structure, lending the palace both height and additional internal space for official receptions and ceremonial gatherings. This dome, constructed from bulletproof glass produced in Germany, is composed of three-dimensional spherical elements. The feature was a collaborative effort between Georgian architect Vakhtang Zesashvili and his Italian counterpart, Franco Dzagari.

The eastern facade of the palace is comparatively subdued, broken only by a central glass section framed by a row of projecting columns—a mirrored echo of the primary front facade. Pilasters embellish the lateral sides of the building.

• Total area of the Avlabari Residence: 22,000 square meters

• Area of the Presidential Palace itself: 1,500 square meters

The palace’s left wing houses the President’s office, a library, and several conference rooms, while the right wing accommodates the Presidential Administration. On the second floor, a glass passageway links the southern facade with the “G”-shaped block of the State Chancellery. On the ground level, there is a museum exhibiting diplomatic gifts presented to the Georgian president by world leaders. The second floor features the Ekvtime Takaishvili Hall, where official meetings of national importance take place.

The inner courtyard of the Avlabari Residence is adorned with lush greenery. At its center stands a rotating monument symbolizing the interwoven branches of Georgia’s government—legislative, executive, and judicial. Nearby, a heart-shaped fountain made of dozens of glass fragments pays tribute to the multicultural nature of the Georgian people. The rear courtyard is home to a vivid mosaic composition by N. Amiredjibi, artistically chronicling key epochs in the nation’s history.

• Visiting Hours: Tours are available by prior arrangement only

• Phone: +995 32 282-736

• Official Website: https://www.president.gov.ge