The Tbilisi Skybridge, also known as Nutsubidze Skybridge, is a standout among Brutalist structures in Georgia’s capital, an architectural relic built for living rather than governing or educating. Constructed between 1974 and 1976 by architects Otar Kalandarishvili and Gizo Potskhishvili, this trio of concrete towers linked by metal walkways was intended as part of a broader vision—a network of skybridges connecting neighborhoods. The full plan never materialized, but the remaining structure speaks volumes about Soviet-era urban planning and the idealism of that time.
Rising from Tbilisi's Nutsubidze district, the Skybridge is an emblem of a utopian vision captured in raw concrete and stark geometry. It’s not just another apartment complex but a unique residential hub that encapsulates the bold and sometimes polarizing aesthetics of Brutalism. Each of the three connected blocks, with their sky-high walkways, serves as a reminder of the city's Soviet past and as a unique exploration site for urban adventurers.
Far from a sterile architectural specimen, the Skybridge is alive with a community that has evolved alongside Tbilisi over the last half-century. Step inside, and you’ll find a world that balances the brutal exteriors with the warmth of human connection. The buildings have been homes to families for decades, with each resident adding to the narrative of this concrete colossus. Their stories are woven into the fabric of the structure, turning the cold Brutalism into something living and personal.
Visitors can walk across the skybridges, perched at dizzying heights, to soak in expansive views of Tbilisi’s ever-changing skyline. From these heights, the city spreads out below, a living tableau that contrasts sharply with the static, unyielding concrete underfoot. The journey to reach these vistas is straightforward but requires a few tips: find the public elevator tucked away at the back of the first building, prepare exact change—20 tetri per person per ride—and ascend to the 14th floor. There, metal arms stretch between the towers, offering pathways in the sky that are both exhilarating and slightly surreal.
Exploring the Tbilisi Skybridge is more than a chance to see Brutalist architecture; it's an opportunity to step into a slice of Tbilisi that defies the ordinary. Here, the mundane act of walking between apartment buildings transforms into an adventure, where each step along the metal walkways connects you not just to the structure, but to the stories of the people who call it home. Whether visiting at sunrise or sunset for the best light, or simply navigating the bridges with a camera in hand, the Skybridge offers a unique lens through which to view both the past and the present of this complex city.
