Project
Eliava's Claw
Category
Best Project of Public Building or Facility
About the project (provided by the applicant)
With the duality of “What is a market?” & “Why Eliava?” a mystery unfolds.
Rooted in Iranian heritage and shaped by blocking heat & light, the bazaar is a covered space—an architecture of events. Purchase becomes experience through three forces: Natural (raw materials), Human, & Spatial (hallways, hidden corners).
A paradox: industrial yet slum-like, modern yet filthy, unbearable yet irremovable. Its pathology lies in lack of infrastructure & structure, leading to two syntheses:
- Compression: though disruptive, it brings opportunity. Space shortage solved by vertical expansion & underground use, isolating polluting, noisy functions.
- Complexity: though disruptive, it offers possibilities. Division creates relative order—structured overall, yet intricate in detail, preserving mystery.
By freeing five arteries & extending to the river, Eliava gains breathing space & double value. Its jagged façade fragments leap toward the river, twisting to reveal a unique identity.
Location
Tbilisi, Georgia
Project design year
2025
Project website
https://babakabdolghafari.com/work/bazaar/
Extra visual materials
https://youtube.com/shorts/W0t-IX6cdro?si=pzDrsrbsmfndFcOM
Applicant
Babak Abdolghafari
Author of the project
Babak Abdolghafari Atelier
Visualization
Babak Abdolghafari Atelier
Status of the project
Conceptual design
