Salzmann Albert

Salzmann, Albert (September 10, 1833, Tbilisi – July 26, 1897, ibid.), a prominent Tbilisi architect of the 1860s–90s. His father was a German who had settled in Tbilisi. He received his education at the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts, and from 1861, his entire professional career was linked to Georgia, specifically Tbilisi. In 1865–66, he traveled to Germany, France, Belgium, and England to study the architecture of hospitals and prisons. In 1867, the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts granted him the title of Academician, and in 1876, he was appointed as an architect at the District Engineering Department of the Caucasian Military District.

Over the course of 35 years, numerous state, public, and private buildings were constructed in Tbilisi according to his designs. In 1865, he was appointed a member of the Construction Commission for the city's former St. Michael Hospital, which was built based on his project. Among his other notable works are the Catholic Church on I. Javakhishvili Street (1870), the Caucasian Museum building (completed 1870; it stood on the site of the current S. Janashia Museum of Georgia), and the building of Women’s Gymnasium (completed 1874; currently L. Gudiashvili St. No. 10). From 1886–93, he supervised the construction of the Tbilisi Treasury Theater (now the Opera and Ballet Theater).

Salzmann also designed many residential houses for representatives of the Tbilisi aristocratic and high classes. Along with O. Simonson, he was one of the architects who introduced a new character to the city's urban development, specifically the Renaissance-Baroque facades common in Russia and Western Europe at that time. Other significant works include Salzmann’s own residence at No. 115 David Aghmashenebeli Avenue (1872), the house at No. 14 R. Tabukashvili Street (1876), and the facades of the Caucasian Museum and the Women’s Gymnasium. The residential house at 22 Galaktion Tabidze Street is particularly interesting for its facade treated with motifs from historical Georgian architecture.

Salzmann was decorated with Russian and foreign state orders.

Literature: ბერიძე ვ., თბილისის ხუროთმოძღვრება. 1801–1917 წწ., [ტ.] 2, თბ., 1963; მანია მ., ევროპელი არქიტექტორები თბილისში, თბ., 2006.

V. Beridze