Collaborations, Conscious Cuisine, and Creative Exhibitions at Stamba

Set within a former publishing house, Tbilisi’s Stamba Hotel and surrounding footprint acts as a cultural hub for both the city’s creative scene and visiting inquisitive minds. Although the Adjara Group launched Stamba as an upscale boutique hotel in 2018, they soon expanded it to encompasses many more spaces. These include SpaceFarms, the country’s first vertical farm; the Tbilisi Photography & Multimedia Museum, the first institution in Georgia dedicated entirely to the contemporary image in its different forms; and Udabno Lab, a zero-waste production site for almond-based products like oil, milk, and ice cream in collaboration with Europe’s largest regenerative farm. Now, Stamba’s offerings have been broadened once more to include a dedicated, uniquely designed place fit for coworking, collaborating, and special events: D Block.

Ensuring a smooth transition from the hotel, museum, and conscious culinary endeavors, D Block features a cozy, dimly lit ground floor. The atmospheric space boasts an array of one-of-a-kind artworks by contemporary Georgian artists, a sophisticated bar, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined with a curated selection of inspiring reads. In a large former factory room with soaring ceilings, ergonomic chairs by Vitra and expansive tables on wheels are backdropped by metal room dividers, brick walls painted a deep red, and statement-making vintage chandeliers. Upstairs, a more conventional coworking space offers individual desks and a brighter ambiance, albeit with a distinct design vision: Vitra multifunctional dancing walls separate areas outfitted with energy-efficient Iguzzini and Artemide lighting, a McIntosh sound system, and—to ensure everyone stays well-fueled—a La Marzocco espresso machine. Pairing these aesthetic yet functional pieces with concern for the environment, D Block also expresses a commitment to sustainability: the majority of tables and table lamps were crafted in-house with upcycled materials, and intelligent climate control has been installed throughout the premises. 

With the overarching environment focused on generating mutual benefit, growth, and success, D Block prioritizes making new connections, the exchange of knowledge, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Come autumn, the space will be activated with talks and panel discussions featuring speakers from a wide variety of professions. Plus, everything from interviews to brainstorming sessions to technologically complex digital conferences can be held within a series of six intimate and versatile gathering rooms, each of which can accommodate between six and 12 people.

This latest addition to Stamba reflects its deep-rooted ethos: every space onsite renews Georgia’s cultural heritage while bolstering the city’s contemporary creativity, from the visual arts to culinary developments. SpaceFarms provides all Adjara Group’s restaurants with fresh and flavorful produce year-round, hydroponically growing 3,080 plants per month while using 75% less water than traditional farming. With over 20,000 hectares of land in eastern Georgia, Udabano is known for establishing modern, efficient, and sustainable agricultural practices in the country; at Stamba, the Udabano Lab transforms harvests from their 700,000 organic almond trees into an array of edible products, alongside bread, chocolate, and other produce, used at Café Stamba and available to purchase at the Udabano Shop. 

Additionally, the Tbilisi Photography & Multimedia Museum at Stamba hosts a range of exhibitions, discussions, and educational programs. It also spearheads the “South Caucasus Hub for Education and Innovation” (PHEI) project. This regional platform offers courses, workshops, and grant programs to bring together South Caucasian photographers, artists, curators, and experts in visual culture. PHEI’s programming pairs with the museum’s temporary exhibitions and ongoing research into Azerbaijani, Georgian, and Armenian photographical heritage from the 19th century to the Soviet occupation to the modern era. Together, the museum—like Stamba at-large—offers a place where visitors from the area and farther afield can experience image-making and creative engagement as forms of empowerment for important social and cultural changes.