Multidisciplinary Analysis of the Vernacular Settlements in Ushguli (Upper Svaneti, Georgia)

A multidisciplinary analysis reveals that the vernacular settlements of Ushguli, located at the highest point of human occupation before the permanent snowed highlands separating Georgia from Russia, exhibit unique urban morphological features distinct from classical urban elements. These settlements, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, display an overlapping of private and public spaces without a standard concept of streets or squares, significantly influencing their vernacular architecture. The study, conducted under the Project 3D Past, employs a combination of architectural analysis, urban morphology, and historical research to elucidate these original features, which are shaped by the Svan's history of conflict and isolation.

Sousa, G., Carlos, G., Florentino, R., & Bermudez, T. (2020). MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OF THE VERNACULAR SETTLEMENTS IN USHGULI (UPPER SVANETI, GEORGIA). The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XLIV-M-1-2020, 189–193. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xliv-m-1-2020-189-2020