In July 2013 I travel to the Caucasus region for the first time. I have been keen to visit Georgia and Armenia for some years, as both have some great examples of futuristic Soviet-style architecture. The most famous of these buildings is the former Roads Ministry which was completed in 1975. Now owned by the Bank of Georgia this modernist icon serves as its headquarters. It was recently renovated and painted in a light yellow colour which suits the original design well.
What is interesting about contemporary Georgian architecture is that the „cosmic communist style“ appears to be continued into the present. Under president Saakaschwili (replaced by Iwanischwili in 2012) many ostentatious steel and glass constructions were built, the most impressive one in the shape of a UFO.
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The following day I go hiking towards the North Ossetian border on the main road…