Gideli Spining The past in Present and Future

Travel Agency and Multi-Functional Centre Saba

Completed Projects – Culture. Heritage

Georgia

Company Name

Travel Agency and Multi-Functional Centre Saba

COMPANY COUNTRY:

Georgia

ARCHITECTURAL CREDITS

Gela Santeladze (Architectural Concept and Design), Tom’s Hut (Project Partner) – https://www.facebook.com/reel/888783753420579

Project Team

Gela Santeladze (Project Concept, Architectural Design and Coordination), Tom’s Hut Team (Project Partner and Site Support), Multi-Functional Centre “Saba” Team (Project Development and Tourism Integration), Local Gideli Artisans and Craftsmen (Traditional Knowledge and Training), Community Representatives of Buknari (Stakeholder Engagement)

CLIENT OR OWNER NAME:

Saba Santeladze – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092384466555

Project Name:

Gideli Spining The past in Present and Future

Project Country:

Georgia

Project City:

Ozurgeti

Project Category:

Culture. Heritage

Project Area:

The project will be implemented in a renovated two-storey wooden barn located at Tom’s Hut in Buknari, Guria. The first floor, with an area of approximately 15 m², will serve as a vocational workshop where visitors, schoolchildren, and community members will participate in Gideli basket-spinning demonstrations, trainings, and masterclasses. The second floor, also approximately 15 m², will be used for the storage of raw materials, tools, and finished Gideli products. Therefore, the total gross conditioned floor area of the project is approximately 30 m².

Completion Date:

2025-05-15

Project overview

The project will revive the traditional Gurian craft of Gideli basket spinning through the establishment of a 30 m² vocational workshop and storage space in a renovated wooden barn at Tom’s Hut, Buknari. The initiative combines cultural heritage preservation, community employment, tourism development, and education. Visitors will participate in workshops and masterclasses, while locally produced Gideli baskets will be sold as souvenirs. The project is designed as a low-cost, community-based tour

Project history

The idea emerged from the need to preserve the traditional Gurian craft of Gideli basket spinning, a unique element of local intangible cultural heritage that is gradually disappearing as older craftsmen age and younger generations have fewer opportunities to learn the practice. Discussions with community members, local artisans, and Tom’s Hut highlighted the importance of creating a space where this knowledge could be documented, practiced, and transferred. In 2025–2026, the project concept was developed to transform a wooden barn in Buknari into a vocational workshop and storage facility dedicated to Gideli production and training. The client’s vision was to combine heritage preservation with tourism development, community engagement, and local employment. The project is expected to create new income opportunities, strengthen community identity, attract visitors interested in authentic cultural experiences, support local artisans, and raise awareness of Buknari and Gurian tradition.