Writers’ House of Georgia
A belle époque mansion that has served as the intellectual and emotional centre of Georgian literary culture for over a century, hosting the nation’s most celebrated writers and now operating as a hub for literary events, residencies, and cultural memory.
At a glance
Built between 1903 and 1905 as a private mansion, the Writers’ House stands in Sololaki on Ivane Machabeli Street as a repository of Georgian literary achievement and trauma. From the 1920s onward, it became the gathering place for major literary figures, and today it hosts residency programs, exhibitions, cultural events, and a garden restaurant.
History
Entrepreneur David Sarajishvili commissioned the building from architect Karl Zaar, who designed it in a style blending art nouveau and neobaroque elements. The terrace features a mosaic of Villeroy and Boch tiles. By the early 1920s, the mansion had become a salon for the Blue Horns literary group and other major Georgian writers. Tragedy intersected with creativity when poet Paolo Iashvili died by suicide there on 22 July 1937. After decades of use, the building was formally re-dedicated to literature from 2008 onward. In 2021, coinciding with Tbilisi’s designation as UNESCO World Book Capital, the Museum of Repressed Writers opened within its walls, designed by Mariam Natroshvili and Detu Jincharadze with archival support from SovLab Research Laboratory.
What you see
The mansion combines early modernist and baroque revival aesthetics characteristic of early-20th-century Georgian urbanism. Its most distinctive feature is the terrace mosaic of imported European tiles. The interior spaces accommodate galleries, event halls, and exhibition rooms designed for cultural programming.
Cultural significance
As the Financial Times observed, the Writers’ House “has been the centrepiece of Georgian literary society for over a century, its triumphs and tragedies tracing the political contours of the country’s history.” It remains essential to Georgian intellectual life, advancing literary translation, fostering creative development, and documenting the suppression of writers under Soviet rule. The institution engages internationally while maintaining deep roots in local literary practice.
Key facts
- Built 1903–1905; architect Karl Zaar
- Designed by entrepreneur David Sarajishvili
- Art nouveau and neobaroque style
- Location: Sololaki, Ivane Machabeli Street 13, Tbilisi
- Residency program launched 2017
- Museum of Repressed Writers opened 2021
- Coordinates: 41.69023°N, 44.79975°E
Practical information & getting there
The Writers’ House is located in the historic Sololaki district of central Tbilisi. It hosts literary events, exhibitions, and residencies year-round. A restaurant operates in the garden during summer months. Check the institution’s schedule for public programming and exhibition hours before visiting.
Sources & resources
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