Spartak Zhidkov, Abkhazia. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The public campaign launched by the Sukhumi intelligentsia attracted considerable attention and support among the citizens, but the businessmen also have their arguments and their supporters. They stress that the new project will not become the first "skyscraper" in Sinop, that the most beautiful multi-storey buildings built in Soviet times blended very harmoniously into the landscape and became a hallmark of Sukhumi. In a similar way, they claim, new buildings could also change the face of the city for the better. The problem is that this cannot be predicted - only once the building is ready will it become clear if it is true or not. Over the past few years in Sukhumi quite a number of multi-storey buildings have been built. Their construction has not been discussed with the public. If this continues, in the coming years the streets of Sukhumi and Gagra will be covered with huge buildings, and beautiful miniature houses will become invisible.
Even the president has shown interest in the debate. He assured reporters that the 14-storey "monster", as it has been nicknamed by protesters, will not be built. Alexander Ankvab said that it can be only six or a maximum of eight storeys tall.
Despite Ankvab's reassuring statements the protests are spreading, and one should recognize that the preservation of a "single-storey Abkhazia" is very much consistent with the task of attracting tourists. Today Abkhazia is good for those who want to have a break from the crowded city with all its noise and smoke. The Abkhazian town perfectly blends with the surrounding landscape, and the samples of the Stalinist monumental classicism are reminiscent of ancient buildings. One of the most typical examples is the health resort "Amra" in Gagra.
Certainly, one cannot say that Abkhazia can benefit only from classical buildings. For instance, in Gagra there is a very famous restaurant, "Gagripsh", which was manufactured in Norway, bought by the Prince of Oldenburg at the World Exhibition in Paris and brought to Abkhazia in 1902. Nevertheless, a "southern" style mostly befits Abkhazia, with its Mediterranean allure and three-storey modern buildings, the "rock cakes" constructed today in Abkhazia generally look nice, but do not seem to blend with the old houses.
There is a need to create a permanent body consisting of public figures, architects and art historians who would be able to define the architectural outlook of Abkhazia. This possibility is already being discussed, but at the moment it is just at the discussion stage.
There is another sensitive issue which remains almost untouched - the problem of urban greening. The beauty of Sukhumi largely depends on the old trees that were planted there in the Soviet times. However, nowadays such mighty trees as cypress, sycamores, eucalyptuses and others are almost not planted because they are considered a hazard for construction works.
When the country was dominated by the post-war devastation there was no danger, at least for old buildings and perennial trees. Now, when the country is recovering, the side effects can be very negative. In the midst of the controversy, it seems that it would be hard for the public and the business world to reach an agreement. However, the point is to find a mutually-acceptable solution: intellectuals should develop a common point of view, while businessmen should listen to their recommendations. Otherwise, the lack of understanding will deepen.
One should bear in mind that the old brick mansions, which are the pride and beauty of Sukhumi, were constructed not by art historians or government officials, but by businessmen and the nouveau riche, mostly Greek merchants. In a similar way today, Abkhaz businessmen and their business partners in Russia (or other countries) can render the country a great service and earn the gratitude of future generations.
