Central Garden in Kutaisi: The Unrealized Project of François Duvillers
Central Garden in Kutaisi: The Unrealized Project of François Duvillers

Summary/Abstract: In 1868, Vladimir Levashov, the military governor-general of western Georgia – a remote border province of the Russian Empire at the time – initiated the reconstruction of a central garden in Kutaisi, the region’s administrative centre. This decision might not attract particular attention from modern historians were it not for one notable detail: he commissioned the garden’s design from the Belgian landscape architect François Joseph Duvillers.Since antiquity, building projects – particularly the shaping of urban landscapes through the creation of public gardens – have served as a powerful means for rulers to secure lasting fame. Levashov appears to have been one such figure, seeking to leave a legacy or, at the very least, to remain in the memory of his subjects. His decision also reflected a broader trend within the Russian imperial administration of the time: the establishment of municipal gardens in every regional centre. Recognised by his contemporaries as a progressive figure, Levashov aimed to endow the provincial town with a more European appearance while crafting an environment in line with his ideals. By commissioning François Joseph Duvillers – a prolific European architect – for the project, Levashov presented himself as an ambitious and forward-thinking leader.The oversaturated design of the Kutaisi garden reveals Duvillers’s apparent disregard for the long-term implications of his work. In this case, he appears to have prioritised visual appeal over environmental considerations or practical feasibility.

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