National Youth and Children's Palace

National Youth and Children's Palace (Georgian: მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე), sometimes referred as Pioneers' Palace, National Palace or by its original name – Viceroy's Palace, is a historical building located on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The original building, constructed in 1802, after the establishment of the Imperial Russian Rule in Georgia, served as the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus in Tiflis. After several reconstructions, a new palace was built in 1818, designed by architect Braunmiller. The palace was reconstructed in 1847, by architect Nikolai Semyonov, who gave the palace a classical look and constructed a garden on the left side of the palace. It underwent second renovation in 1869, led by Otto Jakob Simonson [de], a German architect working in Tbilisi. He enlarged the palace and gave it a renaissance look.^[3]

During the various periods of Russian Imperial rule in Georgia, the palace was sometimes the residence and palace of the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus, and sometimes of the Viceroy.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the palace housed the government of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. On May 26, 1918, the federation announced its dissolution and the National Council of Georgia, convened at the palace on the same day, declared Georgia's independence at 5:10 p.m. Two days later, the independence of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan and the First Republic of Armenia was declared in the palace. Following the declaration of independence, the palace housed the government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia and the National Council, which, following the 1919 parliamentary elections, was replaced by the Constituent Assembly of Georgia. On February 21, 1921, the palace hosted the adoption of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic by the Constituent Assembly.

After the Sovietization of Georgia, the palace housed the Georgian Revolutionary Committee, then the governments of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and Soviet Georgia.^[4] In 1937, the soviet government decided to open a Pioneers Palace, a nonformal educational institution for children. After the reconstruction, the palace reopened on May 2, 1941 to house the educational institution for children with learning, art and cultural, musical, theatrical, botanical studios, etc. Since 1941, the palace has been housing Tbilisi National Youth and Children's Palace.^[5]

The Palace is listed as a Cultural Heritage Monument of Georgia.^[6]

History

Early History

Prior to the 19th century, the Area of present day Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square, Orbeliani Square and Tchanturia Street was behind the city walls of Tiflis and was called Garetubani [Peripheries]^[7]. This area was cultivated with gardens and vineyards that belonged to the Georgian Royal Family.^[8]

After the Russian conquest of the Caucasus and the anexation of Georgian Kingdoms, Russian Authority was established in Georgia. Russian Empire appointed Karl Knorring the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus.^[3] In 1802, in Garetubani, Georgain Architects constructed a two building complex ^[7] for the Commander-in-Chief, where he could work and live.

This complex was demolished and a new classical building was constructed in 1807.

Current Building

In 1818, the previous buildings were demolished, and Architect Braunmiller constructed a new palace on the same site. Later, the building underwent an enlargement, with the small rooms replaced by larger ones, including private apartments for the commander-in-chief, study rooms, a pool room, clerks’ rooms, a Winter Garden, and more. ^[3]^[9]

In 1844, Petersburg architect Nikolay Semionov drastically changed the outlook of the palace. He gave it a classical look and installed sculptures of Hercules and Minerva on the facade.^[10]^[3]

By the end of 1850 there was a proposal to construct a new, even greater building for the Viceroy on the Gunib Square, where the present day Parliament building stands, but realization of the project failed and it was decided to remodel the old one.^[3]

In 1865, German architect Otto Jakob Simonson [de], who was invited by the Viceroy of Caucasus to work under his administration on several projects, started the reconstruct of the palace.^[11]

Plan of the façade by Otto Jacob Simonson

Simonson expanded the palace, moved its side wings forward and slightly changed the main façade. He enlarged the central reception, designed a large foyer, grand staircase and a large dining room with a portico and a salon in the north part of the palace and designed a working office of the Viceroy, reception, living room and an exhibition hall with a terrace and a wide, open staircase to the garden in the south part of the palace. He also constructed entertainment spaces and spaces for staff.^[11] Simonson gave the palace a renesainse facade and decoreted its interior with stucco. He designed the ballroom in the Persian style, adorned its ceilings with stalactite vaulting, encrusted and curved its walls with ornamental mirrors, installed Stained glass windows and hung gilded chandeliers. He also added marble chimneys in halls, living rooms, reception, foyer and in the lobby.^[12] Simonson finished the reconstuction in 1869.