About the Project

Situation in Block VI Vazha-Pshavela

Vazha-Pshavela Block VI is characterized by a lot of green areas. With big trees and small bushes, open sport fields and playgrounds along with green balconies and community gardens, the territory offers a great variety of green places. These spaces provide an essential quality to the residents with places to meet, to rest, to be active and relax. At the same time due to unclear organized ownership, different interests among the neighbors and a lack of planning there are problems of disorganization and maintenance. Garages and wild parked cars, new buildings or the threat thereof are more and more occupying the territory. Some existing green spaces especially at the back of the houses are not used and lay vacant. Many open spaces are sealed with concrete and show no qualities. At times of climate change the unsealed ground and plants contribute significantly to a sustainable development and comfortable living conditions in the neighborhood
(visit the link for the map)

Aim of the Project

The overall goal of the living lab is it to discuss solutions to improve the living condition of the residents by reorganizing the open spaces in the neighborhood. The lab offers a platform for exchange and communication between residents, professionals and administration. To get a wholistic understanding it is important to discuss different interests about the future development with all relevant parties, the inhabitants, the municipality, the district administration and planners. By bringing partners together, defining problems and formulating solutions it will highlight the importance of the green spaces, and give them the attention they deserve.

Research Framework

This project focuses on exploring the typology and transformation of open spaces within residential microdistricts. We analyze various types and subtypes of open spaces in Block VI Vazha-Pshavela, examining their current characteristics, past transformations, and potential for future improvement. Through our research, we study existing and envisioned scenarios for how these open spaces are used. The ongoing dialogue with residents in the Living Lab provides invaluable insights into these spaces' current uses, the community’s needs, perceptions, and expectations regarding their development.

Dialogue for Citizens’ Science

The living lab intents to create a dialogue between scientists and residents in order to develop ideas for future development of Block VI Vazha-Pshavela. The academic partners, Ilia State University, Odessa State Academy of Architecture (Ukraine) and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) give with their expertise professional input and act as moderators and provide a platform for a dialogue between the neighbors, civilian initiatives, planners, district management and municipality. With different events, such as neighborhood walks, Round Tables, workshops and other formats all who are interested in the development of Block VI of Vazha-Pshavela are invited to bring in their interests and ideas. 

Activities and Expected Outcomes

In the first phase of the living lab we want to better understand the potentials and problems of the green spaces. During public walking tours we will discover visible and hidden qualities. Discussion rounds will be arranged in order to reflect different perspectives concerning demands, requirements and expectations. How could the open spaces be improved, which areas are available for transformation? In the second phase scenarios for possible future development will be elaborated. What benefit could be achieved, if cars were removed and green areas were put in? How could life quality be improved if sealed surfaces would be turned into green spaces? In a workshop open to the public we will develop alternative concepts for the improvement of the neighborhood environment. All ideas will be organized in a coherent plan, that will be handed over to the district management and municipality as base for further planning activities.

In the first phase of the living lab we want to better understand the potentials and problems of the green spaces. During public walking tours we will discover visible and hidden qualities. Discussion rounds will be arranged in order to reflect different perspectives concerning demands, requirements and expectations. How could the open spaces be improved, which areas are available for transformation? In the second phase scenarios for possible future development will be elaborated. What benefit could be achieved, if cars were removed and green areas were put in? How could life quality be improved if sealed surfaces would be turned into green spaces? In a workshop open to the public we will develop alternative concepts for the improvement of the neighborhood environment. All ideas will be organized in a coherent plan, that will be handed over to the district management and municipality as base for further planning activities.

The Lab – an Open Neighborhood Office

The lab opens an interim office in the neighborhood. You find us on Vazha-Pshavela Avenue, 6th quarter, adjacent to buildings #5b and #20. Here members of the research team are available for your questions and comments. During the opening hours of the lab everyone can provide ideas and give feedback. We are happy to receive your ideas and comments concerning the green spaces in Block VI Vazha-Pshavela! You will find additional information about the project, e.g. best practices of other neighborhood development, in Georgia and abroad, planning policies of the municipality of Tbilisi, such as the plans for implementing superblocks, an idea created in Barcelona / Spain and the 15-minute-city. 
A cooperation by Ilia State University / Tbilisi, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture. Funded by Volkswagen Foundation, Germany.
The living lab is part of the trilateral research project „The Future of Modernist Housing“, carried out since 2020. The core question dealt with by the project is how the existing living space in large housing estates can be secured for the future and further developed in a sustainable manner. The aim is to map out the spatial qualities and deficits of the housing estates – in terms of both the living space and the residential environment – in order to develop recommendations for action on this basis. Research partners are Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Technology and Ilia State University. Irkutsk National Research University has been project partner until 2022.