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Dmanisi Visitor Centre, Dmanisi, Georgia

Architects
Jean-François Milou, principal architect
Lam Nguyen, designer in-charge
Nguyen Thanh Trung, design manager
Luong Trung Hieu, team member
Le Tran Ngoc Linh, team member
Client
Georgian National Museum
Bidding mode
Commission
Area
3,000 m2
Consultancy Service scope
Conceptual Design, Detailed Design
Contract Period
2019- ongoing

 

Dmanisi: Archaeological Windows onto Human Development and Heritage

The Dmanisi Visitor Centre will introduce and conclude the site visits to the paleoanthropological and the Georgian fortress that constitutes this extraordinary archaeological ensemble. Within the Centre, two overarching narratives will be explored:

Dmanisi, Georgian Fortress
• Middle age Archaeological survey
• Christian Religious beliefs and iconography

Dmanisi, Immemorial Hominids Settlement
• Paléoanthropology of Georgia
• Scientific theory of evolution of human kind

The recent discovery of Dmanisi hominids gives precious insights into human evolution. The archaeological and scientific exploration around this exceptional site constitutes a story-in-the making, evolving with the ongoing discoveries and inter-disciplinary efforts of archaeologists, historic anthropologists, historians, and other passionately curious individuals from diverse fields.

view at the pathway leading to the cafeteria on lower ground level

view at the entrance towards the valley

Jean Francois Milou was discussing with David Lordkipanidze

the studioMilou team, David Lordkipanidze and the team of the Georgian National Museum

Approach

The Dmanisi Visitor Centre will present the story of discoveries made by the Dmanisi team over the past decades and up to the present day. Its layered narratives will integrate the diversity of approaches and angles involve in piecing together what these archaeological sites tell us about the societies of Dmanisi over immensely wide time frames.

As a place of exploration and learning, the Centre will aim to appeal widely, with its exhibition design and content reflecting paths of enquiry that are at once scientific, humanistic and creative, with a strong environmental dimension in which humans are studied within their natural environment. It will dismantle traditional borders between domains, to open cross cutting themes of profound and universal importance to human enquiry, such as intersections between science and spirituality as reflected in the medieval archaeological site research.

All exhibits will be at once spectacular, educative and accessible, anchored in the findings of the Dmanisi archaeological sites, and enriched further by drawing on the extensive collections of the Georgia National Museum – pre-history, early Christian, medieval and others.

In terms of the overall design aesthetic and feel, the Visitor Centre will provide an atmosphere of simplicity and comfort, a sort of calm backdrop from which visitors can observe, absorb and meditate rich exhibits, and engage in various programmes, with the spectacular views of the Dmanisi’s valley and fields.

The concept will focus less on traditional Visitor Centre standards, and create an open lounge-like space, one that is both relaxing and convivial, as befits a destination aimed at encouraging Georgians and other visitors to feel both at ease, and moved by the beauty of Dmanisi.

general bird-eye view from the southwest of the site

general bird-eye view from the east of the site

a large café restaurant open to the valley

view at the restaurant & cafe towards the landscape

view towards the main entrance

view from the path to archaeological site towards Dmanisi Visitor Center