Tusheti — where it all began
Adgili is an architectural platform and idea was born in Tusheti, during the traditional architecture workshop organized within AQtushetii art residency. Our shared vision and spirit connected us three, while the conversations that began in Tusheti eventually took shape and here we are.
We believe that preserving traditional architecture and caring for the heritage left by our ancestors is an important responsibility. At the same time, we observe why certain structures were created, how they functioned, and what purpose they served.
For example, if we look at the fortress settlements located along Georgia's northern border, particularly in Tusheti and Khevsureti, their primary function was to support daily life, ensure safety, and sustain the existence of the community. At the same time, they represented effective architectural solutions created through the knowledge and resources available at the time.
Today, when these structures no longer serve their original purpose, we begin to ask what can still be used from this heritage, what we can learn from it, and what may be added in response to contemporary needs.
This is precisely where the study of local architecture, traditional building methods, the use of natural materials, and craftsmanship becomes especially important. This is an extremely delicate territory where the existing environment must not be ignored or distorted merely for the sake of comfort and new functions.
This is the central driving idea behind our platform: to reinterpret the essence and purpose of traditional and historical architectural complexes created across different periods within a contemporary context.
We should not forget that we, too, are shaping history, just as our ancestors once did. We face challenges of our own and, like them, search for solutions — though today's challenges appear in different forms. For this reason, it is essential first to understand clearly the problems we are facing, and only then begin searching for answers.
We believe that the knowledge passed down by our ancestors is not merely a legacy of the past, but the memory of place itself — the invisible foundation upon which the relationship between people and environment has been formed over centuries. Nothing begins from zero; every new idea, space, and path is rooted in existing experience, nature, and cultural context.
Knowledge passed down through generations
The Platform Adgili seeks answers in both the past and the present, aiming to merge them thoughtfully in order to create effective, human-centered solutions. The platform's goal is to unite theoretical and practical work that strengthens the connection between people and environment, while opening new possibilities for a society that is increasingly distancing itself from nature, local identity, and the authentic experience of space.
