It was 2014, when I got into Tbilisi State University (TSU), the number 1 university in the country, but little did I know what awaited me during the forthcoming mid-terms and finals. The word ‘Maghlivi’ invokes nightmarish chills in the body of every TSU student. But what is it exactly?

Situated on University Street, the colourless Rubik’s cube, aka the university library, aka the exam center, aka Maghlivi gives off true zombie apocalypse vibes. A cow or two might disturb the harmony of the roaming zombies, but they’re too busy sucking all the vital knowledge for the midterms from all the students that were brave enough to show up after an all-nighter. 

Designated as a vault for more than a hundred thousand books back in 1917, this building is a symbol of pre-Soviet freedom of the educational system. Even to this day, the university library is deemed as one of the richest in the state (at least according to tsu.ge), also deciding the destinies of thousands of young adults on the verge of their future life paths. Maghlivi is a building to marvel at, from its bizarre and haunting architecture and thought-provoking vibrant murals to its purpose to the nation as a definer of generations and generations to come.

Please keep in mind that the Maghlivi building is designated for TSU students only and its marvelous, yet haunting beauty should be observed from the outside.