Vake

Vake became part of Tbilisi only around 120 years ago, yet its success was almost inevitable thanks to its location between the northern slopes of Mtatsminda and the Vere River valley, just minutes from the historic center. Compact, green, modern, and filled with contemporary buildings and skyscrapers, Vake attracts affluent residents, expats, and tourists alike. The district continues to evolve, with new apartments, business centers, and retail spaces constantly appearing.

The modern image of Vake began taking shape in the 1930s, when many public and residential buildings were first constructed here. Development continued over the following decades, covering much of the era often referred to as Soviet Art Deco. Neoclassical apartment buildings — sometimes called “Stalinkas” because of their age and architectural style — form the foundation of the district. One example stands at 43 Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue:

At the intersection of Vake’s main avenue, Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, and the road leading toward Tskneti — Choloqashvili Avenue — a park and the Lokomotiv Stadium were built in the 1950s. The stadium was later renamed after Mikheil Meskhi.

Above the park, on the slopes of Mtatsminda, lies the beautiful Turtle Lake, surrounded by easy hiking trails and recreational areas. A cable car operates year-round, connecting the district with the lake.
View of Chavchavadze Avenue from the lower cable car station:

Over the past decade, this view has changed dramatically. The neighborhoods closest to the park became the center of Vake’s vertical growth, dominated by the spiral-shaped Axis Towers — currently the tallest skyscrapers in Tbilisi.

Each floor of the 147-meter towers is rotated by two degrees relative to the one below, creating the effect of a twisting spiral. The buildings are nearly identical in form, differing mainly in facade colors. Their functions, however, are different: one tower houses a hotel and business center, while the other contains residential apartments. The podium includes shopping and entertainment spaces.

The high-rise cluster is complemented by several other landmark buildings that together form one of the most recognizable skylines in Tbilisi. These buildings house banks, large corporations, apartments, and hotels surrounding Axis Towers along both sides of the avenue:

Particularly striking is the brutalist-style skyscraper inspired by American architecture, home to Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi:

Although these towers were built decades later than the traditional architecture of Vake, their integration into the neighborhood feels surprisingly organic. The Art Deco-era Vake and the glass-and-concrete Vake coexist closely without diminishing one another.

Dedicated bus lanes run along Chavchavadze Avenue, placed in the center of the roadway. This unusual transport project includes island-style bus stops and contraflow public transport movement. Crossing the solid yellow line is prohibited for all vehicles except emergency and service transport.

Facing the avenue is the small Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity — a modest and welcoming храм serving the local community:

Chavchavadze Avenue on a sunny summer day:

Near building No. 37, a block of two-story barracks-style housing still survives, awaiting redevelopment. These buildings were constructed more than a century ago, back when Vake had only recently become part of Tbilisi.

Overall, the district follows a regular urban grid with almost perfectly rectangular blocks. Only where the slopes of Mtatsminda become steeper does the layout turn more chaotic, gradually transitioning into predominantly private housing. Away from Chavchavadze Avenue, the area is still dominated by neoclassical buildings from the 1930s–1950s:

Mature plane trees cast deep shade over the narrow streets:

Vake is also home to Mziuri Children’s Park, built along the slopes of the Vere valley in the 1980s. The park was renovated several years ago, heavily landscaped, and remains one of the most popular green spaces among local residents. Plans are already underway to expand it further.

Vake:

Traveling southeast from Vake’s business center toward the geographic center of Tbilisi, the district boundary follows Korneli Kekelidze Street. Around this point, building heights noticeably decrease, the average age of buildings rises sharply, and the neighboring district of Vere begins.

Vake is home to public schools No. 41, 55, and 165, two private Georgian-American schools, one European school, municipal kindergartens No. 133 and 152, as well as numerous private kindergartens, a state hospital, and private medical centers of various specialties.