On June 23, 2022, at the Faculty
of Ecclesiastical Architecture, Icon Painting, Restoration of Easel
and Monumental Icon Painting of Tbilisi Theological Academy and
Seminary, a defense of the Bachelor’s degree project, titled “The
Baisubani Monastery Complex”, was held. The project was prepared by
the students of Ecclesiastical Architecture, David Kelaptrishvili
and Luka Kvirchiladze. The supervisors of the work on the thesis
were Doctor of Architecture, Professor Medea Melkadze and Master of
Architecture Nana Abramia.
The graduates presented a project
of a monastic complex, which combined both ecclesiastical and
secular buildings. For their project, they chose an area around the
village of Baisubani (the Lagodekhi Municipality), an impressive
place of beautiful landscape and location.
David Kelaptrishvili presented a
project of a three-aisled church inspired by Oshki as a model of
temple architecture, and Luka Kvirchiladze presented a project of a
cross-domed church (supervisor of the project - Nana Abramia). It
is noteworthy that while working on it, the graduates took into
account the main characteristic features of the contemporary church
service. In addition to the temple and the bell tower, the
monastery complex includes a residence for monks, buildings for
various household and educational activities. The graduates
designed a three-level building, which, in addition to the monks’
residence, provides the patriarchal residence and a relaxation area
for pilgrims. The project envisages workshops for stone and wood
products, vineyards, cellars, crypts, etc.
Professor Medea Melkadze
supervised the work on the projects of secular architecture. David
Kelaptrishvili designed a nursing home and Luka Kvirchiladze
designed a first aid center. The process of working on the
monastery project turned out to be deeply interesting and fruitful
for the students. David Kelaptrishvili has allocated
multifunctional spaces in the nursing home: a winter garden, a
cinema, a library, a media library and others. The medical centre
designed by Luka Kvirchiladze provides both diagnostic rooms and
spaces for relaxation.
The members of the Commission for
the Diploma Thesis Defense were TTAS Vice-Rector for Education and
Administration Deacon Besarion Tsintsadze, Dean of the Faculty of
Ecclesiastical Architecture, Restoration of Icon Painting, Easel
and Monumental Icon Painting Archpriest Ioseb Vanidze, Dean of the
Theological Seminary Priest Giorgi Vashalomidze, Head of the
Rector’s Office Eldar Bubulashvili and others, Head of the
Department of Ecclesiastical Architecture, Archpriest Besarion
Menabde, Dean of the Theological Seminary Priest Giorgi
Vashalomidze, Head of the Rector’s Office Eldar Bubulashvili and
others.
The presented diploma thesis
deserved great approval of the commission members and the attending
public. The presentation was followed by a discussion and the
graduates gave exhaustive answers to the questions.