• Elaborate a comprehensive master plan for the development of Mountain Mtirala and Village Korolistavi
  • Adjara, Georgia
  • UNDP Georgia
  • 15698.8 ha
  • completed, 2022
  • 2236-MMP
  • Situation Analysis, Tourism and Area Development Program, Architecture and Tourist Infrastructure Design
  • Martin Sobota, Anaïs Le Grand, Elene Machaidze, Jona Fani, Edoardo Facchinelli, Alexandra de la Vega
  • Georgia Ecotourism Association, BDO Consulting LLC, ESCO Solutions LLC, Het Echte Werk, Ride Albania Mountain Biking

Mtirala National Park

Mtirala National Park is considered one of the most important protected areas in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara in Georgia. The name Mtirala (meaning „to cry") is derived from the 4,500 mm of annual rainfall, making it one of the wettest areas of the former Soviet Union.

The Integrated Masterplan for Mtirala National Park and Korolistavi Village aims to strengthen both wildlife and ecosystem protection as well as local economic development through eco-tourism. CITYFÖRSTER in collaboration with a variety of experts, from business consultancy to mountain bike trail development, developed a masterplan by formulating a 20-year vision for the region, containing 25+ possible interventions promoting and making accessible the "wettest place of Europe" a subtropical European rainforest, as well as a detailed 3-year action plan, eco-tourism and marketing and promotion strategy.

CITYFÖRSTER organized three workshops with the community of Korolistavi village and three stakeholder's workshops, identifying their goals and vision for Mtirala National Park and Korolistavi village.

Regarding the Architectural interventions, we were greatly inspired by the extremely peculiar natural situation of the park. Our aim was to design an architecture that doesn't distort but rather amplifies the peculiarities. This was achieved by designing extremely light, compact, and delicate objects.The function of these objects is not to draw attention to themselves but to be used as devices for understanding their natural surroundings.

  • Elaborate a comprehensive master plan for the development of Mountain Mtirala and Village Korolistavi
  • Adjara, Georgia
  • UNDP Georgia
  • 15698.8 ha
  • completed, 2022
  • 2236-MMP
  • Situation Analysis, Tourism and Area Development Program, Architecture and Tourist Infrastructure Design
  • Martin Sobota, Anaïs Le Grand, Elene Machaidze, Jona Fani, Edoardo Facchinelli, Alexandra de la Vega
  • Georgia Ecotourism Association, BDO Consulting LLC, ESCO Solutions LLC, Het Echte Werk, Ride Albania Mountain Biking

Map with proposed interventions