By their nature, cultural centers must serve a variety of purposes. But chief among them is to promote a sense of wonder and welcome for its visitors. In the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, Rome -based architecture firm Fuksas has accomplished this goal with their nearly completed music theater and exhibition hall. Located in Rhike Park, on the banks of the Mtkvari river, the building is divided into two corresponding twin glass and steel tubular structures. For any local resident or tourist walking past, a sense of wonder and welcome cannot help but be experienced.

At the south end of the venue, visitors enter one of the two funneled forms, walking up the stairs to enter the exhibition hall. The tubed structures stretch until they merge into part of a pre-existing retaining wall, which marks the end of the complex. The northern part of the structure contains the 566-seat musical theatre hall. This section of the building also houses a cafeteria, along with several spaces for theatre machinery and storage for concerts and performances.

An image looking up one of the two staircases of the complex.

While the exhibition hall is closer to street level, the musical theatre, on the other hand, rises from the ground and allows the visitors in the cafeteria to enjoy sweeping views of the river and skyline. In effect, it is a periscope overlooking the city towards the historic core of the Tbilisi. The new cultural center is expected to be completed later this year.