The uniqueness of Tusheti is conditioned by the architecture along with the nature, which is an organic part of the environment. The villages and fortress-towers on the mountains have been crafted by the Tusheti people for centuries.
Unique architecture of Tusheti
Tusheti is rich of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The historical traditions that form the basis of Tush culture are still alive in it. The Tush landscape is a harmonious blend of nature and human action. The Tush villages, organically harmonized with the relief and landscape, create a sense of unity, where the border between the man-made and the natural seems to blur. The unique environment, the perfect combination of architecture and landscape make the cultural landscape of Tusheti unique as a phenomenon of independent value.
The abundance of material and cultural heritage attracts attention in the villages of Tusheti. However, here not only cultural monuments are of value, but also a separate rural landscape, an urban fabric, with one of its constituent parts being buildings. Tush culture is all about having strong connections with the native villages. They are an integral part of Tusheti with their customs and way of life. Socio-cultural values preserved by the local population create a unique atmosphere in Tusheti. The historical values of Tusheti are mainly presented in the form of architectural monuments, which are found throughout the protected landscape of Tusheti.
Tusheti is widely known for its landscape architecture. Settlements on the mountain slopes, mainly 7 types of buildings can be distinguished: defensive tower, residential castle-tower, residential house, agricultural building "Boseli", icon or shrine, church and crypts. Buildings are an organic part of the environment of rare beauty. The uniqueness of Tusheti is due to the nature and architecture, which is an organic part of the environment.
The villages and fortress towers on the mountains were being created by the Tush people for centuries, soon however, they will disappear from the cultural landscape of Tusheti. Old Diklo, Old Girevi, Chontio, Hego, Ageurta, Tsaro, Kvavlo, Farsma, Dakiurta, Bochorna, Indurti - each of the 10 fortress-villages are unique monuments, both in historical and architectural significance, so the first steps will be taken to protect and preserve them. In particular, urgent works have been carried out or are in progress - topographic, architectural-archaeological surveys, geological, construction, archaeological, historical and art-scientific research, which will lay the groundwork for the creation of restoration-conservation projects.
In order to compile the concept of the monument rehabilitation, the restoration-conservation project and the management plan, it is necessary to determine the development vector of these villages, their function in the context of the development of Tusheti and the priorities of the rehabilitation order.
Distortion of the unique architecture of Tusheti has left its mark on modern construction materials and technologies Today (NNLE) Tusheti Protected Landscape Administration in cooperation with partners - architectural studio "Arsi" and the company "Geographic" created a traditional construction guide to avoid gross violations in the field of architecture.
Within the allocations of the Marketing and legal consulting expenses (24 01 01 04) under the State Budget for 2016-2017-2018 years approved by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and within the framework of the grant agreement №1182 concluded between the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) , on 18.08.2016, the competition (№CNT160000121) on the preparation of documentation for the spatial-territorial planning of Akhmeta Municipality and Tusheti was announced. The winner and accordingly the supplier became Ltd. Studio 21" and "Geographic" on the basis of the agreement №569 concluded on November 2, 2016. In addition to spatial planning, the project envisages elaboration of the development regulation plans for the development of 10 villages in Tusheti and the Lower and Upper Alvani.
The documentation submission process was done in three stages:
1. Pre-project research and strategic development vision concept - 02.04.2017
2. Development planning assignment - 02.07.2017
3. Final documentation - 02.08.2018
Project for Development planning assignment under the Development Regulation Plan for the Villages/deserted villages: Jvarboseli, Shenako, Farsma, Omalo, Indurta, Etelta, Dochu, Diklo, Dartlo, Girevi, Bochorna aims to compile, rank and reconcile the priorities for the use of the entire rural area, the architectural planning and spatial characteristics of the development of individual planning units, development goals and strategy.
The Tusheti Protected Landscape continues to work actively in these and many other areas, with the aim of preserving the heritage left by the ancestors.