Didi Dighomi

Overview

Didi Dighomi (Georgian: დიდი დიღომი, “Greater Dighomi”) is a neighbourhood in the north-western part of Tbilisi, in Saburtalo District. It is separated from the Dighomi Massive by David Aghmashenebeli Alley. The neighbourhood was planned in the 1970s and construction began in 1985; it is divided into four microdistricts.

The Soviet plan envisaged seven residential districts for about 250,000 residents, but because of the collapse of the Soviet Union only the first and part of the second were built. Since the 2000s the area intended for the other five districts has been built up chaotically, without a unified plan.

Location

The centre of the neighbourhood is at approximately 41.7884° N, 44.7528° E (OpenStreetMap). Under the Soviet plan the new district was to extend between the village of Dighomi, the Mtkvari River and today’s 100,000 Martyrs Street, with present-day Mirian Mepe Street dividing it into two parts.

To the east, along David Aghmashenebeli Alley, Saburtalo District borders unit No. 25 of Didube District, the Dighomi Massive: according to the 2014 resolution, the boundary of the Dighomi Massive runs along the alley’s central axis. The Tsotsora ravine runs between microdistricts III and IV; the planners set it aside as a shared public and recreational space for the two microdistricts.

History

• 1930s — the idea of expanding the city to the north-west appeared when Tbilisi adopted its first general plan for development and reconstruction.

• 1970s — the construction of Didi Dighomi was decided while the 1970 general plan was in force. Until then the land was farmland of the Dighomi state farm, where vegetables were grown.

• Planning — the scheme, drawn up at Tbilkalakproekti by Shota Kavlashvili and Bidzina Maminaishvili, placed 7 residential districts with their centres and industrial areas along Mirian Mepe Street, and a hospital complex and sports zones between David Aghmashenebeli Alley and the Mtkvari.

• 1980s — detailed projects were prepared for the individual districts; construction began in 1985 and continued until 1991.

• 1990s — after the collapse of the Soviet Union there were no resources even to finish the housing already under construction; privatisation of land and public infrastructure began in the early 1990s.

• Since the 2000s — unfinished and unplanned areas, including sites intended for district centres, have quickly filled with high-rise buildings.

Administrative status

Didi Dighomi is part of Saburtalo District, which also includes Lower Saburtalo, Vedzisi, Lisi, Vashlijvari, Patara Dighomi, Dighomi village, Zurgovana, Telovani and Didgori. Tbilisi City Council Resolution No. 16-35 of 5 December 2014 divided Saburtalo District into three territorial units; the north-western part is covered by unit No. 9 “Dighomi, Vashlijvari”. Its boundary runs in the south from the Tbilisi–Kvemo Lisi road (at the turn-off to the oncology hospital) to the Mtkvari, in the east along Didube and Gldani districts, and in the north along Mtskheta Municipality.

Streets and education

Streets in Didi Dighomi include Ioane Petritsi, Giorgi Brtskinvale, Mepe Archil (King Archil), Demetre Tavdadebuli, Farnavaz, Petre Iberi and Mirian Mepe (King Mirian) streets.

There are three public schools: No. 186, No. 192 and No. 211 (the “Mega School”). Former public school No. 187 was also located here.

FAQ

1) Where is Didi Dighomi?
In the north-western part of Tbilisi, in Saburtalo District. David Aghmashenebeli Alley separates it from the Dighomi Massive.

2) Which district does it belong to?
Saburtalo District. Under the 2014 division the north-western part of the district forms territorial unit No. 9 “Dighomi, Vashlijvari”.

3) When was Didi Dighomi built?
It was planned in the 1970s; construction began in 1985 and the Soviet-era building phase lasted from 1985 to 1991.

4) Who planned it?
The planning scheme was drawn up at the Tbilkalakproekti design institute by Shota Kavlashvili and Bidzina Maminaishvili.

5) How many residents was it designed for?
The plan provided for 7 residential districts with a combined population of about 250,000.

6) How much of the plan was realised?
Only the first district (microdistricts I and II) was more or less completed and the second (microdistricts III and IV) partly. The area of the other five districts has been built up chaotically since the 2000s.

7) How many microdistricts are there?
Four.

8) What was here before construction?
Farmland of the Dighomi state farm (sovkhoz), used for growing vegetables.

9) Which schools are in Didi Dighomi?
Public schools No. 186, No. 192 and No. 211 (the “Mega School”); former public school No. 187 was also located here.

10) What are the main streets?
Mirian Mepe Street, which divides the area in two according to the plan, as well as Ioane Petritsi, Giorgi Brtskinvale, Mepe Archil, Demetre Tavdadebuli, Farnavaz and Petre Iberi streets.

Sources

• Didi Dighomi — Georgian Wikipedia

• N. Zazanashvili, “Urban challenges of Didi Dighomi, part one” — Indigo, 2 Dec 2022 (in Georgian)

• Tbilisi City Council Resolution No. 16-35 of 5 December 2014 (division of districts into territorial units) — Legislative Herald of Georgia (in Georgian)

• Saburtalo District — English Wikipedia

• Didi Dighomi (relation 18183807) — OpenStreetMap