crazy constructions pt 1.

This is the Palace of Rituals, also known as the Palace of Ceremonies (1985). It's not really clear to me (or anybody on the internet, for that matter) what it exactly was and is, but I understood it's something of an 'secular church' from Soviet times - with civil wedding ceremonies and stuff like that. There's even a rumour going on that the 'church' hosted a disco club. Looking over the Aragveli bridge, it became the private residence of some wealthy Georgian. His was buried there in 2008.

Since it's my new habit to spend the weekends in Armenia, there's also this crazy construction in Yerevan. The Communist-time Rossiya Kino / Ayrarat Cinema (1970-4) is now a shopping mall, obviously.

 

When they became independent in 1991, the South Caucasians decided that the former habit of building gigantonormous Lenin and Stalin statues could be pursued with a nationalistic approach. Mother Georgia, or Kartlis Deda, holds a bowl of wine in one hand - to welcome visitors - and a sword in another - the fight her enemies. 

 

Yerevan has something similar, called Mother Armenia (Mayr Hayastan) of course. However, this mama is equipped to fight here enemies only. Anyway, I figured that Armenians are as famous for their hospitality as Georgians are. 

After Communism, many shrewd businessmen managed to get very rich in little time. Not only in the Russian Federation, but in Georgia and Armenia emerged some oligarchs as well. Georgia's richest man by far is Bidzina Ivanishvili, with more than six billion dollar. This is his house, looking over Tbilisi. O, and he's the former Prime Minister as well.

 

I don't know who's house this is, but I reckon there's some money involved here as well. 

However, the Post-Soviet authorities aren't lacking inspiration for big constructions as well. When I was in Tbilisi in 2009 Rike Park was one big muddy construction pit. This is what it turned into, with, from the left to the right: the Peace bridge (2010), the Public Service Hall (2012), the Theater and Exhibition Hall (2012), the Presidential Palace (2009), and the Tsminda Sameba cathedral (2004).And some other stuff I wasn't able to identify any more.

Looking like a giant fungus, the Public Service Hall lies in between the traffic junction next to the Dedaena Park. 

Here you see the Tsminda Sameba cathedral through the Peace Bridge, or Mshvidobis khidi. 

The Bridge is dubbed 'Always bridge' because, well, because of the undeniable resemblance.

Also, check these out: 

The architecture blog post of my fellow Tbilisian Sonja, who's a great photographer: http://sonjakatharinainspb.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/diesunddas/ 

'The beauty of Soviet brutalism' of Russian Beyond the Headlines: http://rbth.com/articles/2011/12/02/the_beauty_of_soviet_brutalism_13887.html 

'Top 25 fantastic Soviet buildings': http://englishrussia.com/2013/11/19/top-25-fantastic-soviet-buildings/ 

'25 abandoned Yugoslavia monuments': http://www.cracktwo.com/2011/04/25-abandoned-soviet-monuments-that-look.html 

'Soviet bus stops': https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sovietbusstops/soviet-bus-stops-limited-edition-photo-book 

'Cosmic Communist constructions' of the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/feb/27/cosmic-communist-constructions-frederic-chaubin