Adaptive Reuse as Urban Catalyst

16:15 - 16:45

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.

Tbilisi

Ani Mardaleishvili Associate Partner

Fabrika Tbilisi

Ani Mardaleishvili is an architect with MUA – Multiverse Architecture, the Tbilisi-based studio behind Fabrika’s transformation. She has contributed to adaptive reuse strategies that honor original industrial aesthetics and foster vibrant social engagement. Her work supports the project’s aims of heritage preservation, cultural activation, and community-led urban renewal.

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