RESTORATION AND SOCIALIZATION
ABOUT
Built in the 1970s in the outskirts of Varna, Bulgaria, the monumental structure is a Brutalist architectural marvel, housing striking ceremonial halls, meant to glorify the achievements of the Bulgarian communist regime and the pivotal role of the Soviet-Bulgarian fraternity.
Constructed to withstand a nuclear attack, a system of hidden passages lead to underground fallout shelter facilities. Situated on a terraced hill, surrounded by beautifully designed park, the complex provides a unique public space with a breathtaking view of the bay, easily accessible from all parts of the city.
For more than twenty years the edifice lays in ruins. Together with the overgrown alleys of the unkempt park, the complex represents a gloomy tribute to a forgotten past. Contested memories have prevented consensus about its fate, leading to its abandonment by both – government and society.
Supported by Regional Administration Varna and the Cultural Fund at Varna Municipality, a team of historians and architects are working with local administration, and cultural and academic organization to preserve this historical heritage. The goal is turning the complex into an educational and cultural center, passing its lessons to future generations.
Without glorifying or condemning its past, the project aims at preserving the architectural and cultural significance of the monument, while allowing the space to adapt a new contemporary role. This colossal memorial of Bulgaria’s socialist past will continue serving its primary purpose – to conserve the irascible marks of time.
The team considers the project to be of local and national importance, and a serious contribution to the international community of scientists and architects, studying the relevance of this time period to contemporary social and cultural development.
RESTORATION
The project advocates restoration and preservation of the architectual integrity of the monument, where carefully planned interventions – artistic, contextual, and informational considerations – aim at restoring original elements, and modernizing existing infrastructure. The goal is to secure the life and revive the purpose of the building and its surroundings.
The restavration includes restoration and preservation of facades; replacement of window and doorsills; resurfacing and waterproofing of the roof; replacement of paving and resurfacing of all interior staircases; ensure accessibility; restoration of all exterior and interior decoration and signage; and replacement and rehabilitation of existing park hardscape surfaces.
The choice of materials preserves and highlights the originally designed vision. The concept tries to accomplish contemporary look, without undermining the conservation of the architecture. The design relies on industrial and polished concrete, bronze, teak and glass, symmetrically mirrored in the outdoor areas – unifying the entire complex into an organic whole.
ADAPTATION
The concept for the restoration and socialization of the complex is built on the conviction that the Park-Monument is a significant cultural, architectural and historical landmark that needs to be preserved for future generations.
Integrating the public park into the project is of paramount importance. Its architectural value is undeniable – master landscape planning and design, serving as a crowning frame for the entire complex.
Bringing the complex back to live, requires integrating its past into contemporary cultural and educational purposes. The adaptation allows the space to be revived as a vibrant public space, housing three main entities:
Historical core, including museum exhibit and a research center; Center for Contemporary Art – allowing space for cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary dialogue; and a commercial area, featuring a restaurant, and a bookstore.
The vastness of the interior spaces is to be accentuated by all engaging, interactive displays, immersing visitors into the scale of the era – archival photos, audio and video materials will educate and incite a recollection and reevaluation of the past.
Socialization will rely on projects, such as the EUROVISION – MUSEUM EXHIBITING EUROPE, which explores innovative interdisciplinary approaches for museum excibits; and HEROES WE LOVE, a multidisciplinary study on the socialist heritage in European art.
GALLERY
Take a virtual tour of the monument’s past and present by scrolling through the gallery. The decay of this massive structure is a living bulletin of contemporary history and memory.
"The past is never where you think you left it." ― Katherine Anne Porter
See full-length documentaries on the hereditary value of monuments from the socialistic period in Bulgaria, produced by our partners the Trace Project, a cultural project, studding the architectural value and social meaning of these memorials within contemporary urban landscapes.
