Flying to Tbilisi at night is like entering into a fairy tale. All the
villages and countries are illuminated and it is like an incre-
dible, beautiful, cheerful embroidery in the velvet dark sky.
A good start to work on a project: Tsinandali, an old winery,
more than 200 years old, left in ruins.
I had the luck to meet the owner, I call him George le premier.
I remember unforgettable visionary and inspiring working
dinners together. The place itself, those beautiful ruins in
good shape, seduced me from the first sight and convinced
me not to turn down the offer.
Turning this magic place into a resort of high standard was
a great challenge. Respect for the ruins was first priority. It
was clear to me that we had to stay away from any kind of
tendencies. My team and I tried to avoid any kind of banality.
The place has a very strong aura and any mistaken decision,
which would hurt this already existing harmony, would have
been like a criminal act.
I am convinced, that Tsinandali will be another exciting,
twinkling star, like all those wonderful places you cross to
arrive there. Tsinandali took me under its spell. Tsinandali
was one of my biggest challenges in my life.
Ingo Maurer
Ingo Maurer with
Heike Dewald
Sebastian Utermöhlen
Axel Schmid
Marisa Mariscal
and the whole Ingo Maurer Company.
Without their support a project like
this is unthinkable.
Special thanks to George Ramishvili for his carte
blanche, to George Kharabadze, Giorgi Marr and the
Silkroad team.
Many thanks to Lika Dolidze and Sandro Baliashvili
for their warm and passionate collaboration.
