Adaptive Reuse as Urban Catalyst
14:45 - 15:15
La Centrale, Nuvola Lavazza
How to revive old industrial heritage and foster cultural transformation, reshaping the city’s identity.
Fabrika Tbilisi is a striking example of industrial heritage reimagined. Originally a sewing factory known as “Nino,” the complex lay abandoned until MUA – Multiverse Architecture partnered with Adjara Group to repurpose it. Completed in 2016/17, the adaptive reuse project transformed approximately 7,600 m² into a multifunctional urban hotspot.
The renovation preserved raw interiors —bare walls, exposed pipes, concrete floors— and retained original factory artifacts as design elements. Bold interventions like a bright-red plywood staircase and strategic accessibility upgrades blend old and new while retaining the site’s industrial character.
Fabrika now hosts a vibrant courtyard enclosed by three blocks, anchoring cafés, bars, artist studios, shops, a co-working space, a creative education studio, exhibition areas and the largest hostel in the region with up to 400 beds and 22 permanent residents.
Celebrated for sparking neighborhood revitalization, Fabrika quickly became a daily gathering place for locals and travelers, hosting up to seven weekly events, fostering creative dialogue, and serving as a canvas for vibrant street art.
Winner of the 2018 Global Architecture & Design Award (Urban Design, runner-up), the project exemplifies how minimal but thoughtful architectural intervention can catalyze social, economic, and cultural transformation in urban areas.
