Ermolov-Errivansky Square

At present the building accommodates Tbilisi Town Council (2, Independent Square). Initially the town oplice headquarters, built in 1820s, stood here. The authorities planned to erect a new three-storied building for the Town Council on this spot. A closed competition from 13.5.1879 until 13.8.1879 was held. Four designs were presented, the one by the Tbilisi architect P.F. Stern won the second prize (there was no first prize). The town council did not approve of it and in 1880 they asked the Austrian architect H. Ritter Von Ferstel (1828-83) to draw up a project in the so-called "Oriental" style. By the end of 1881 B.T. Beloy (1842-?) had also drawn up a project of the building. While considering it the authorities concluded that it involved great expenditure. Consequently it was decided to reconstruct the police headquarters. It was planned : a) to build a third story over the middle of the existing building; b) to add two two-storied outbuildings, instead of the old ones overlooking Veliaminov and Hann streets (now Shalva Dadiani and Galaktion Tabidze streets respectively); c) to erect a two-storied building in the yard for meetings of the Town Council and Exchange. The last one had to be connected with the main building. The city architect A.G. Ozerov was asked to draw a plan of the reconstruction work, while his colleague P.F. Stern took care of the facades. Both architects accomplished their task by the beginning of 1882. Work began the same year and was completed in March 1886. At the end of 1884 the town clock, which can still be seen, was installed on the tower of the building. In 1910 and 1912 a third story was put up over the wings and the building acquired its present appearances