Project “Face” – Urban competition “Alley 1” Varna, Bulgaria

Team: arch. Yulia Zhelezova, arch. Vladimir Dimitrov, arch. Alexander Asenov /SASHECCO/, arch. Alexander Minchev /AMProject/, k.arch. Martin Vekov, k.arch Galina Zapreva, eng. Nachko Andonov, eng. Pavlina Andonova, Ecologist Doncho Angelov, Kalina Georgieva, urb. Jivko Jelezov

“I have traveled all over the world, I have seen hundreds of littoral cities, but such as your miracle, such a combination of sea, sand and park settings I have rarely seen. Watch after your Sea Garden “- Arch. Jacob Bakema – member of the International Jury of the town planning competition for the city center, held in 1966

Concept

Project “Face” links diverse spaces and merges the functionality of individual components into a single composition. The “Alley 1” in Varna’s sea garden is symbolically transformed into a necklace of pearls connected by smooth lawns.

Urban structure of “Alley 1”; the Sea Garden and its bordering residential and public areas.

The urban development of Varna is characterized by series of major public buildings having become symbols of the city. These architectural markers are built in or around the sea garden. Festival Complex, Railway station, Aquarium, Maritime military museum were formed as part of an architectural ensemble of squares and parks. They symbolize certain areas and constantly highlight them.

The main objective of project “Face” is to create accents, i.e. socially important markers, which merge into a single system the space around the sea garden.

Restaurants on the alley close to the first jetty – P2 – AS03

This area is heterogeneous structure of temporary buildings. A single continuous structure regroups the commercial necessities of the area. Furthermore its roof becomes an extension of the beach and a curious place for relaxation, observation of the bay, and the flora on the green slope.

Varna’s mineral water pool – P3 – AS04

The tradition and bath culture has to be stimulated. A city of such natural resources has to encourage the use and the development healthy habits. Today those resources remain unused. In the project we suggest the first sketch of an intervention willing to become a policy.

Varna Congress Center – P4 – AS05

Congress center complex in “Alley 1” is complementing the “architectural necklace of pearls” on the coastal promenade. An expression of the principles guiding the whole project “Face” the Center’s roof complement the green slope. This area represents the widest flat terrain on the alley and offers possibilities of a large intervention.

Marina club on third pire – P5

Existing facilities need renovation. That’s an opportunity for their integration into the investment program, improving the aesthetic appearance and condition. Pire 102b was transformed into a marina club with a capacity of 150 boats.

Hotel complex – P6 – AS06

The planned hotel complex follows the requirements of the Law on the Black Sea coast, whose main objectives are:

1. Creating the conditions for the conservation, sustainable and integrated development of the Black Sea coast;
2. Providing free public access to the beach;
3. Protection, conservation and wise use of natural resources;
4. Prevention and reduction of pollution of the Black Sea coast;
5. Protection of the beach from erosion, abrasion and landslide processes;
6. Restoration and conservation of the natural landscape and cultural heritage.

The hotel complex is planned in the space between the third and fourth pire. Guided by the principles of multiuse the built structures like the hotel part of the Congress Center perform the role of supporting facility, thereby strengthening the slope and protect it from erosion and landslides.

Values:

- Conservation of nature in the middle: green park bordering the historic core of the Sea Garden – a cultural monument
- Conservation of the landscape from the sea towards the garden and vice versa
- Conservation of direct visual contact park – beach – sea
- Conservation and stabilization of steep slopes to the alley
- Protection of traditional use of the territory