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TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN HOUSES

ARCHITECTURAL FLOOR-PLANS, SECTIONS, ELEVATIONS & DETAILS

OF WOODEN DWELLINGS IN IMERETI, GURIA, RACHA, MINGRELIA, &C.

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Found in September 2020 among second-hand books on display by the entrance to Rustaveli tube station in Tbilisi: a superb copy of Mikheil Garaq'anidze, Prof. B. Mikhailova, Prof. R. Agababyan and B. Lortkipanidze's Georgia's Wooden Architecture (საქართველოს ხით ხუროთმოძღვრება; Tbilisi: 'Soviet Georgia', 1959).

The culmination of numerous architectural expeditions to Guria (1940 & 1954), Racha-Lechkhumi (1946), Kakheti (1946), Imereti (1948 & 1954), Ach'ara (1954), Abkhazia (1954) and Mingrelia (1954), the first part of the book comprises 145 pages (in Russian) on various aspects of Georgian architecture along with an extensive bibliography, but under a very unprepossessing cover the book's real appeal lies in its over 300 beautiful watercolours and black and white elevations, floor-plans, sections, details, &c. It would take forever to photograph every page, so the following is a selection of my personal favourites. (And, as always, please click for larger images.)

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1. The 'darbazi' of D. Pavliashvili in the village of Pavliantkari (Kartli)
2. The exterior of the 'darbazi' of Sh. Balashvili in the village of Balaani (Kartli)

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'Sajalabo-sakhli' type dwelling. Late XVIIIth, early XIXth century. The property of A. Chigladze in the village of Sakara (Imereti). The village fountain

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Property of S. Zeinklishvili in the village of Savane (Imereti). View from the south-east and general layout. First half of the XIXth century.

Dwelling. First half of the XIXth century. Property of S. Zeinklishvili in the village of Savane (Imereti)

Dwelling. First half of the XIXth century. Property of S. Zeinklishvili in the village of Savane (Imereti)

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Property of A. Mskhvilidze in the village of Khani (Imereti). View of the dwelling from the west. Beginning of the second half of the XIXth century

Property of A. Mskhvilidze in the village of Khani (Imereti). Beginning of the second half of the XIXth century

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Properties: G. Kurulashvili and G. Vardosanidze in the village of Chkhari (Imereti). End of the first half of the XIXth century

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South-eastern facade of a dwelling. Mid-XIXth century. The property of E. Kochladze in the village of Bokva (Racha)

North-eastern facade of the dwelling and section. Mid-XIXth century. The property of E. Kochladze in the village of Bokva (Racha)

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The property of T. Goglidze in the village of Skhieri (Racha). View of the dwelling from the south-east and general layout of the property. End of the XIXth century

Dwelling. End of the XIXth century. The property of T. Goglidze in the village of Skhieri (Racha)

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The property of L. Kereselidze in the village of Bokva (Racha). Early XIXth century. View of the dwelling and general layout of the property

Dwelling. Early XIXth century. The property of L. Kereselidze in the village of Bokva (Racha)

Dwelling. Southern facade. Early XIXth century. The property of L. Kereselidze in the village of Bokva (Racha). Mortar and pestle (wooden)

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Dwelling. Early XIXth century. The property of A. Enukidze in the village of Mravaldzvali (Racha)

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Dwelling. Late XIXth century, early XXth. The property of T. Kukhalashvili in the village of Kinchkha (Imereti)

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View of a dwelling from the east. Second half of the XIXth century. The property of Ya. Mikava in the village of Mazandara (Mingrelia)

The property of Ya. Mikava in the village of Mazandara (Mingrelia). Second half of the XIXth century

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The properties of E. Germelia and T. Chogava in the village of Kvitauli (Abkhazia). Middle and late XIXth century

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Dwelling. Late XIXth, early XXth century. The properties of A. Jvania and D. Kartozia in the town of Zugdidi (Mingrelia)

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The property of G. Abashidze in the village of Lashe (Imereti). Late XIXth century