Lisi Garden House Project: Redefining Modular Construction and Environmental Integration in Tbilisi

The building, which consists of seven floors, is designed according to a modular concept, with all components manufactured off-site, except for the complete units. This approach represents an innovative step within Georgian architecture, particularly as off-site construction is still in its early development stages.

Innovation in Off-Site Manufacturing

Manufacturing components off-site contributes to improved quality and reduced waste, while allowing precise control over the materials used. This method also enables shorter on-site construction times, thereby reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional building practices.

Challenges and the Future

Despite its clear benefits, off-site construction remains limited due to the need for precise coordination between design, manufacturing, transportation, and assembly. Nevertheless, the use of this method is expected to increase as modular production technologies continue to evolve.

Inspiration and Design

The layout is inspired by architectural artworks, such as James Wines’ collage “Skyscraper for Houses,” which features residential spaces reminiscent of glass houses, as well as the “Habitable Columbarium” by Provski and Outkin, where these projects envision stacked homes with gardens forming a single residential block.

Spatial Distribution and Architectural Rhythm

The modular living rooms vary between oval and rectangular forms, creating a clear vertical rhythm across the façade grid. Through this distribution, Wines’ visual influence extends to wide balconies that encourage outdoor gardening, expanding the living space to encompass the surrounding landscape.

Individuality within Vertical Community

At its core, the project celebrates individuality within a collective framework; residents enjoy privacy, daylight, and the green spaces typical of suburban living, yet within a compact urban formation.

Innovation in Modern Apartments

The project challenges traditional apartment patterns by prioritizing:

• Spatial generosity
• Natural light
• Seamless connections with the outdoors

Thus, the design combines the advantages of private living with a communal character, providing a distinctive residential experience within a dense urban environment.

Location and Views

The project is located in the northwest of Tbilisi, in the Saburtalo district, on a sloping hillside overlooking Lisi Lake, offering the building expansive views of the city. This strategic location enhances visual connections with both the natural and urban surroundings.

Urban Context

The garden house is part of a master plan overseen by several international offices, including:

• Architects of Invention
• Ricardo Bofill
• UN Studio

The building represents one of several residential blocks ranging from 5 to 7 floors, placed alongside private houses, creating a balance between residential density and privacy.

Integration with the Surroundings

The building’s design helps integrate the residential block with the landscape by taking advantage of the natural hillside slope, providing a living experience that combines urban connectivity with life immersed in nature.

Unit Distribution and Spaces

The building contains 42 residential units distributed across seven floors, with commercial spaces on the ground floor and underground parking, enhancing the building’s multifunctionality.

Vertical Organization and Internal Circulation

The building is vertically divided into three blocks, each containing a staircase and elevator core serving two units per level, ensuring efficient circulation and privacy for residents.

Interior Design and Views

Typical apartments offer dual-aspect views to the east and west, while the upper floors accommodate larger duplexes, allowing flexibility in the use of interior spaces. The building’s orientation maximizes panoramic views of Tbilisi and the western hills, enhancing visual connections with the surrounding environment.

Architectural Expression of the Façade

The façade varies between flat and curved geometries, producing a sculptural expression that interacts with light throughout the day. This contrast adds a dynamic dimension to the building and reflects careful attention to the interplay between architectural form and natural light.

Concept and Regulatory Context

The project was developed within a Development Regulation Plan (DRP), responding to strict standards governing building height, floor area, and massing. The design team worked to balance adherence to regulatory constraints with reimagining residential density in an innovative way.

Design Approach for Garden Houses

The project employs an elegant stacking of modular garden houses, with each unit optimized to maximize daylight, ventilation, and outdoor space. This approach reflects a focus on the quality of the living experience rather than merely increasing the number of units.

Vertical Strategy and Regulations

Fire safety regulations, particularly the 500-square-meter maximum per escape core, led to the adoption of a threefold vertical division. This organization reduces shared circulation areas while promoting semi-private clusters between units, enhancing privacy and resident comfort.

Enhancing the User Experience

This code-driven approach contributes to an improved living experience by integrating regulatory efficiency with intelligent spatial design, making the building more attuned to residents’ daily needs and ensuring a high quality of life.

Ventilation and Views

Each apartment benefits from cross-ventilation and diverse views of the city and surrounding hills, thanks to dual-aspect layouts. This design enhances indoor comfort and creates a healthier, more sustainable living environment.

Glazed Spaces and Balconies

The semi-enclosed glass rooms facing the city provide year-round access to outdoor spaces, expanding living areas and connecting residents with the surrounding environment. The large balconies, optimized through negotiations with the developer, are a distinctive feature that enhances residential quality and adds an interactive dimension to the space.

Leveraging the Terrain

The sloping topography allows for discreet integration of parking areas while elevating residential floors to maximize panoramic views.

Balancing Standards and Environment

This approach results in an expressive modular form that combines:

• Effective environmental responsiveness
• Compliance with regulatory standards
• Enhanced quality of life for residents

In this way, the design unites functional efficiency with aesthetic appeal, creating a comprehensive residential experience within a dense urban environment.

Structural System

Lisi Garden House employs a hybrid concrete-and-steel structural system. Three reinforced concrete cores stabilize the building, while triangulated concrete waffle slabs reduce material consumption, improve load performance, and increase thermal mass, contributing to passive energy regulation.

Façade and Materials

The façade combines double-glass panels within slender aluminum frames, with areas of exposed concrete and back-painted glass to ensure visual continuity. Terraces are finished with white marble slabs, reinforcing a restrained and durable material palette that reflects a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

Sustainability and Materials

Sustainability is embodied through off-site manufacturing, waste reduction, and the use of long-lasting materials. Clear structural expression, an efficient building envelope, and low-maintenance finishes ensure that the building serves as a contemporary and sustainable model for Georgian residential architecture.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Although the Lisi Garden House project offers an architectural experience based on off-site modular construction, allowing some flexibility in unit layout and natural ventilation, the practical implementation of such a model presents several challenges. Coordinating modular design with manufacturing, transportation, and assembly requires high precision, and reliance on modular production techniques remains relatively limited in the current Georgian context.

Additionally, optimizing views and natural light may conflict with regulatory constraints and urban planning codes, reducing the model’s replicability in other projects. Nevertheless, the project can be considered an important reference for studying the integration of modular design with natural terrain, and for evaluating how residential spaces can be distributed to balance privacy with communal living. This provides a valuable foundation for architects and urban planners seeking to apply similar concepts in dense urban environments.

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Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team

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