Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 2 November, the reconstruction project for Chorsu Square was presented in Tashkent. The plan includes the construction of a new hotel, a business center, and residential buildings.

The project has been developed by the German architectural firm Tchoban Voss Architekten. Construction is set to begin in 2025 and will last three and a half years, with the complex expected to open in 2029. The project, which exceeds US$170 million in cost, is being implemented by a consortium of Uzbek and foreign investors.

The reconstruction will create 620 jobs and add approximately 113,000 square meters of residential and commercial real estate in Tashkent. Andrey Trebunskikh, the project team leader, noted that the new appearance of Chorsu Square will transform the Old Town and become a key point for investment and business. He anticipates that the complex will attract offices of major local and international companies, while the hotel will offer tourists a level of comfort comparable to that of major cities.

As part of the project, the existing Chorsu hotel will be demolished. This hotel was sold in 2020 by the State Asset Management Agency to Ittihad International Investment from the UAE for 16.9 billion soums. Currently, the consortium is finalizing the deal to purchase the property from the company, which has decided not to participate in the project.

A technical assessment conducted in October revealed significant damage to the reinforced concrete structures of the building, including up to 20% loss of rebar area and non-compliance of columns from the 14th floor with design requirements. Experts concluded that the building is unsuitable for reconstruction and is not included in the cultural heritage list, despite its status as a piece of Soviet modernism architecture.

The new main building of the complex, designed by the German architects, will retain the outline of the former Chorsu hotel and will become an architectural landmark of the Old Town. The architects aim to create a modern structure that harmoniously fits into the surrounding context while respecting the past.

The new hotel will consist of 29 floors, while the business center will have 14. One of the buildings is planned to house a small museum dedicated to the history of the Chorsu hotel and its unique architectural solutions.