Revaz Sokhadze, the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia, opened the international architectural forum SHARE Georgia 2026.

The Minister addressed the forum participants and spoke about increasing the involvement of architects in state infrastructure projects, the importance of architectural competitions, and opportunities for the development of modern Georgian architecture. 

According to Revaz Sokhadze, a key decision made after assessing the challenges involved in public infrastructure construction was to ramp up the use of architectural competitions. The goal of this new approach is to ensure that a fully developed project exists before construction begins, while also giving architects greater opportunities to implement their professional visions and creative ideas in state projects.

"We decided to pursue the path of competitions. It was a rather bold move that met with skepticism from some quarters, yet I believe there is no alternative to this approach. It is important to us that price is not the sole deciding factor; the concept, visual design, functionality, and architectural merit must also be significant," stated Revaz Sokhadze.

Over the past year and a half, approximately 80 architectural competitions have been held, involving around 100 different architectural firms, with about 45 firms emerging as winners. Design work is currently underway for schools, kindergartens, sports and cultural infrastructure, and other public facilities. The total value of the signed contracts amounts to approximately 140 million GEL.

According to the Minister, when evaluating projects in competitions, it is crucial to consider a combination of factors: architectural quality, functionality, compliance with standards, cost-effectiveness, and the feasibility of actual implementation.

"We do not simply want to build a school or sports facility. We want the structures we build across Georgia’s various regions to set the architectural tone for those areas and represent a modern, 21st-century architectural statement," the Minister noted.

The Minister also addressed challenges within the architectural design process. He noted that, in some instances, issues arise regarding adherence to project timelines and the transformation of a concept into a fully realized working design. While the Ministry is prepared to refine the process in collaboration with architects, meeting deadlines is of particular importance when it comes to public infrastructure. According to Revaz Sokhadze, Georgia possesses a strong architectural tradition; modern projects must respect the country's historical and authentic environment while simultaneously expressing a contemporary architectural vision. The state’s objective is to grant architects greater creative freedom and the opportunity to realize their professional visions within public projects.

The Minister called upon Georgian and foreign architects to collaborate, noting that the Ministry is open to dialogue with professional circles.

"We aim to be a reliable partner that enables architects to realize their visions and make their mark on Georgian architecture. We fully understand that infrastructure cannot be built without architects, builders, engineers, and urban planners. We are partners, and the priority is to create—together—structures that will endure for our country and future generations," stated Revaz Sokhadze.

SHARE Georgia 2026 marks the third edition of the international architectural forum. The event brings together Georgian and international architects, engineers, urban planners, and developers. Approximately 350 professionals and 30 speakers from 20 countries are participating in the forum. The program focuses on key areas such as contemporary architecture, urban development, large-scale projects, and facade design.

The SHARE international professional network organizes more than 25 conferences annually across Central and Southeast Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.