Opposition Alliance’s Nika Gvaramia slams decision to demolish Massimiliano Fuksas’ project 

“The so-called Rike Jugs represent a masterpiece of contemporary world architecture; if some ‘private owner’ is demolishing a building that cost 75 million, what can he construct more valuable instead?” wrote Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Opposition Alliance on the social network.

According to Gvaramia, Rike Jugs is the project of Massimiliano Fuksas, an Italian architect.

“The so-called Rike Jugs represent a masterpiece of contemporary world architecture. It cost 75 million GEL to construct it and is the project of Massimiliano Fuksas, a prominent Italian architect. When a certain ‘private owner’ demolishes a building worth 75 million, one that is acclaimed by various influential architectural publications as a masterpiece of world architecture, what exactly is going to be constructed instead that is more valuable? And by what right is he tearing it down? We are a society living under decisions dictated by the tastes and personal hatred of Ivanishvili—that petty Herostratus. And if we are not that kind of society, we must not allow this act of barbarism!

We still have time not to admit the demolition of Fuksas’ outstanding project. We should not tolerate damaging the city. We must not embarrass ourselves before the world and make everyone think we are barbarians,” Gvaramia said.

Tbilisi City Hall confirmed on July 13 that a demolition permit has been issued for the building located on the Rike riverfront, commonly known as the Rike Park Jugs  [Rike Park Music Theater and Exhibition Hall].