In 1998, ICOMOS Georgia launched Save Old Tbilisi, an initiative to identify, conserve, and legally protect key pieces of Tbilisi’s architectural heritage. (...)
In 1998, ICOMOS Georgia launched Save Old Tbilisi, an initiative to identify, conserve, and legally protect key pieces of Tbilisi’s architectural heritage. The structures selected for the pilot project, known as the Betlemi group, contain important architectural features found throughout the historic district, such as horizontal and vertical tower-like dwellings, flat roofs, stained glass architectural elements, and open woodwork balconies. Tbilisi Historic District was placed on the 1998, 2000, and 2002 World Monuments Watch. After the 1998 listing, the city was nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Zemo Kala Quarter was chosen as one of the major sites of the World Bank Cultural Heritage Initiative. The Watch listings assisted Save Old Tbilisi in their successful promotion of the district and facilitated funding for several projects. WMF supported a comprehensive study and documentation of the Betlemi micro-quarter in 2000. After a severe earthquake in 2002, WMF partnered with ICOMOS Georgia to create an emergency stabilization plan for the Betlemi group and assisted in implementation of conservation and documentation projects.
