Tbilisi Rike Complex demolition

Georgian authorities approved the demolition of the unfinished Rike Concert Hall, a futuristic glass‑and‑steel structure designed by Italian architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, in mid‑July 2026. The building, halted in 2012 after a change of government, had remained vacant and was criticized as an "eyesore" by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Within days, the city issued a demolition permit and work began on the twin cylinder towers, later referred to as the Rike Jugs complex. Ownership of the site shifted from the Saakashvili era to businessman David Khidasheli in 2022 and then to the newly formed company Rike Domi in 2025. Rike Domi plans to replace the structures with a hotel and mixed‑use development, targeting completion by 2030. The demolition is slated to finish by the end of the year, ending a long‑standing dispute over the landmark’s fate.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Tbilisi mayor Kaka Kaładze both condemned the unfinished towers, describing them as unattractive and unsuitable for the capital. The project reflects broader urban renewal efforts as Georgia pursues deeper European integration.