cityzen tower by zaha hadid architects set to rise in tbilisi, georgia

zaha hadid architects designs for a site steeped in history

Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled Cityzen Tower, an ambitious mixed-use development in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. Located at the intersection of Mikheil Tamarashvili and University streets, the tower will comprise residential apartments, commercial spaces, and leisure amenities. Cityzen Tower is designed to rise on the site of the former military headquarters of Soviet forces in central and south Caucasus. Positioned within the evolving Cityzen community in Tbilisi’s Saburtalo district, the project benefits from proximity to the city’s Line 2 metro system, major universities, commercial hubs, and emerging residential developments. Marking ZHA’s first project in Georgia, Cityzen Tower is scheduled for completion in 2028.

visualizations © Negativ

CityZen’s vision for urban connectivity in tbilisi

The design team at Zaha Hadid Architects envisions the Cityzen Tower as a new civic hub in western Tbilisi, Georgia, to accommodate the city’s growing population. The masterplan features interconnected pedestrian pathways, public plazas, and lush gardens, spanning 23,000 square meters of outdoor spaces to encourage recreation and community engagement. Cityzen is strategically positioned adjacent to Tbilisi’s expansive 36-hectare Central Park. Retaining 250 mature trees from the existing site, the development embraces green urbanism, offering residents direct access to botanical gardens, woodlands, and sports facilities.

ZHA’s Cityzen Tower is set to be a new mixed-use development in Tbilisi, Georgia

cascading terraces inspired by georgia’s landscape

The design of Cityzen Tower by Zaha Hadid Architects reflects Tbilisi’s rolling hills and meandering river valleys. The tower serves as an architectural bridge between urban life and nature, featuring cascading landscaped terraces that extend into Central Park, creating inviting outdoor spaces for cafes, restaurants, and communal activities. As Cityzen Tower ascends, the terraces evolve into social spaces for the office floors, while the upper residential levels offer private balconies with sweeping views of the city and park. The tower’s design transitions from an expansive communal base to a refined, diamond-shaped residential footprint, ensuring optimal natural light and panoramic vistas for every apartment.

the project offers 23,000 square meters of landscaped outdoor spaces to the city

Zaha Hadid’s Cityzen Tower prioritizes environmental performance, with extensive solar and wind analysis shaping its 42-story form. The structure optimizes natural ventilation, while extended balconies and external louvres reduce heat gain in summer and enhance passive solar heating in winter, cutting overall energy consumption. Cityzen Tower continues Tbilisi’s tradition of expertise in concrete construction. Targeting LEED Gold certification, the development emphasizes locally recycled materials and a sustainable procurement strategy. Rainwater collection and reuse will be implemented through an on-site reservoir, while native vegetation requiring minimal irrigation will be used throughout the complex.

cascading terraces connect with the park and provide outdoor spaces for cafes and restaurants

Cityzen Tower’s design is inspired by Tbilisi’s rolling hills and river valleys

project info:

name: Cityzen Tower

architect: Zaha Hadid Architects | @zahahadidarchitects

location: Tbilisi, Georgia

client: Cityzen

completion: expected 2028

design: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA project director: Manuela Gatto
ZHA project associate: Yevgeniya Pozigun
ZHA project architects: Takehiko Iseki, Massimo Napoleoni
ZHA project leads: Armando Bussey (Design), Bowen Miao (Facade), Maria Avrami (BIM),
ZHA technical coordination: Kutbuddin Nadiadi
ZHA project team: Alicia Hidalgo Lopez, Armando Bussey, Besan Abudayah, Bowen Miao, Catherine McCann, Charles Walker, Ignacio Fernandez De Castro, Jessica Wang, Jose Pareja Gomez, Kutbuddin Nadiadi, Laizhen Wu, Manuela Gatto, Maria Avrami, Massimo Napoleoni, Panos Ioakim, Takehiko Iseki, Thomas Bagnoli, Yevgeniya Pozigun
ZHA analytics & insights team: Uli Blum, Danial Haziq
ZHA sustainability team: Aleksander Mastalski, Aditya Ambare, Carlos Bausa Martinez, Shibani Choudhury, Disha Shetty

local architect: Artstudio Project
structural engineers: Capiteli
facade engineering: FMT Facade Consultants
MEP: Zerone
landscape consultant: Artstudio Project
animation: Render.ge
LEED consultant: Sustainable Engineering Ltd