During the Soviet era, any expression of Georgian art, culture or independence was seen as a threat and led to harsh punishment or execution. As a result, Georgia’s existence as an independent country was nearly lost. After a century under that oppression, Georgia now stands as its own country. This proposal for an art restoration centre and laboratory aims to be a medium for the current population to find and restore their lost culture. The redevelopment of the abandoned Imereti Sanatorium into a gallery for their exhibition provides a space for the expression and celebration Georgian art, culture and identity.

Conservation of precious and delicate artworks requires meticulously controlled environmental conditions. The importance of controlling light in such spaces was explored through careful research and integrated into designs specific to each room. Each room was designed to have the atmospheric and light qualities specific to the needs of the restorative activities performed within. The resulting building employs layers of controlled exposure and transparency for functional and aesthetic purposes. This branches into other concepts of spatial thresholds, visual openness, centralisation of circulation and atmospheric connections.