Stefano Boeri Architetti has won an international competition to redevelop a former Soviet-era locomotive factory in Tbilisi, Georgia, into Loco Park, a residential district combining contemporary architecture, public parks and pedestrian infrastructure. Commissioned by LOCO Alliance, the masterplan covers a 73,600-square-meter industrial site and proposes a new urban environment that reconnects the former factory grounds with the surrounding city.
The project comprises nine residential buildings arranged within a continuous landscape of public and semi-public spaces. With a planned gross floor area of 120,000 square meters, Loco Park integrates housing, commercial activities, recreational facilities and shared amenities rather than forming an isolated residential complex.
Nine Buildings Connected by Green Public Spaces
The masterplan organizes the development around interconnected pedestrian routes, shared gardens and a linear boulevard. A dedicated sports forest introduces recreational facilities, while tree-lined pathways establish connections between residential areas and neighboring districts. The layout prioritizes movement through open spaces, making the landscape a defining component of the development rather than a secondary feature between buildings.
Each of the nine buildings has a distinct architectural form inspired by the industrial character of the former locomotive factory. Ground floors accommodate shops, cafés, workshops and shared services, creating opportunities for street-level activity. Above, apartments of different sizes respond to varying residential requirements, combining private living spaces with communal areas for residents. 
The rooflines reference the silhouettes of the factories and workshops that previously occupied the site. Their varied geometries accommodate greenhouses, terraces, loft apartments, photovoltaic systems and shared outdoor spaces. According to the architects, the configurations are also intended to improve natural lighting, ventilation and solar exposure.
Brick Façades Reflect Tbilisi’s Architectural Identity
Material selection establishes a visual connection between the new development and Tbilisi’s existing built environment. Stefano Boeri Architetti conducted a photographic color study of the city, identifying shades of blue-grey, terracotta, green, taupe and mineral white. These colors inform the buildings’ brick façades, which use different tones, textures and laying patterns to distinguish the individual structures.
Brick also references the industrial heritage of the site and local construction traditions. This approach gives the buildings a contemporary architectural identity while maintaining a relationship with the character of their urban setting.
Stefano Boeri describes the buildings as “islands in an urban archipelago,” linked through a shared network of pedestrian spaces and greenery. The concept positions landscape and public accessibility as organizing principles for the entire neighborhood.
Loco Park proposes a new function for land previously dedicated to locomotive manufacturing. By combining residential development with green infrastructure, commercial uses and public connections, the project seeks to integrate the former industrial site into Tbilisi’s everyday urban life.
Following the competition win, the project remains in development. Its approach demonstrates how large industrial sites can be reconsidered as mixed-use urban districts, retaining references to their industrial past while accommodating contemporary housing and shared public spaces.
Project: Loco Park
Architect: Stefano Boeri Architetti
Client: LOCO Alliance
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Site area: 73,600 m²
Planned gross floor area: 120,000 m²
Programme: Nine residential buildings, public parks, pedestrian routes, commercial spaces and recreational facilities
Source: Stefano Boeri Architetti with additional information added by Glass Balkan
