The former Georgian Parliament building stands at the western entrance to Kutaisi and is easily recognizable by its enormous oval glass and steel dome, approximately 100 by 150 meters. It was built in 2011-2012 according to designs by the Spanish firm CMD Ingenieros and opened in May 2012.
The relocation of the parliament to Kutaisi was an initiative of President Mikheil Saakashvili under the slogan of decentralization; the construction cost approximately 326 million lari and generated considerable controversy.
MPs worked here from 2012 until the parliament finally returned to Tbilisi in January 2019, leaving the building without a permanent function.
In 2024, the government has commissioned the creation of a technology center for startups and IT companies there, managed by the Agency for Innovation and Technology; the exact launch date remains to be confirmed.
👀 What to see
- A huge oval glass-and-steel dome (about 100×150 m)
- Modern architecture at the entrance to the city
📜 History
- Built in 2011-2012, opened in May 2012
- Parliament sat here from 2012 to 2019
- Cost about 326 million lari
💥 What's now
- A tech hub for startups and IT is planned (2024 government order)
- No permanent open function yet
