RE·VERE 2025

RE - VERE

Laguna Vere, built in the 1970s as part of Soviet modernism, is one of the most striking brutalist sports complexes in Tbilisi. Its exposed concrete structure and Olympic-scale swimming facilities once symbolized the era’s ideals of public sport and collective life. After decades of abandonment, the building today stands as both an architectural relic and an opportunity for adaptive reuse at an exceptional scale. 

Our proposal seeks not to erase or radically transform this heritage, but to preserve its original function and reinterpret it as a contemporary aquatic sports center. This approach is driven by two core principles: first, leveraging the existing Olympic infrastructure provides a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to building anew; second, retaining the function honors the memory of the site and its role in the city’s collective identity.

 The architectural intervention is defined by the addition of a parametric roof that lightly floats above the brutalist mass. Its fluid form contrasts with the rigid geometry of the existing structure, while its aluminum panels and glass surfaces, fabricated through CNC panelization, create a refined contemporary layer. Supported by a lightweight grid-shell structural system, the canopy spans large distances without imposing extra loads on the original concrete frame. Transparent glass bands bring daylight deep into the interior, dissolving boundaries between inside and outside and enabling year-round use. 

 The functional strategy is organized along two primary axes: athletic use and public engagement. The Olympic pool and grandstand remain central, upgraded to meet current international standards. The street-facing front block is entirely reprogrammed: the ground floor accommodates the main entrance lobby, reception, and administrative offices (including meeting rooms, accounting, and registration areas); the first floor houses spa, hammam, and massage facilities with high-quality changing rooms; the newly added upper floor is dedicated to a full-scale fitness center. This membership-based program not only enriches the building’s public role but also ensures financial sustainability. 

 The expansive terrace beneath the tribunes is repurposed into food & beverage units and social areas. Open throughout the year, this vibrant space extends beyond event days, becoming a daily gathering point for the community. Much like the commercial layer in the front block, this secondary revenue stream reinforces the complex’s operational model and supports its long-term viability. 

Ultimately, the project repositions Laguna Vere as a living civic landmark—a place where brutalist heritage and contemporary design coalesce. The weight of concrete, the fluidity of water, and the lightness of modern materials converge to transform a forgotten structure into a renewed cultural and social hub, reconnecting the city to its aquatic legacy.