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Media & Culture Factory
Location: Sofia | Bulgaria
Project status: Schematic Academic Design
Architect: Teofana Haralampieva
* First Prize of Bulgarian Chamber of Architects | Finalist "20 under 36 " exhibition
CONCEPT
The project is developing the area around the former king’s stables and garage in Sofia, situated on the appetizing juncture between the boulevards Vasil Levski and A. Dondukov. The corner building, richly historically ornamented, is preserved and exposed as a car museum ( as its last function used to be). Interesting facade structures and symbols are conserved and implemented in the new structure in their horizontal and vertical projection.A replica of the old peak, situated on the inner corner side of the building, is being modified into a contemporary connection between the old and the new structure. Thus the new volume steps back from the old one, making an elegant link- promenade between the two, which reflects simultaneously images and shadows of the past and future. The visitor have the chance to become part of an exposition roundabout of perception by continuing their walk on the glass peak. This new structure though its geometry generates various spaces- exposition boxes and scenes appropriate for performance and media art.Dondukov boulevards has been famous with its intense cinema presence, projections and shows. Digitalization is fact. Many cinemas are closed or burned. but media and culture will always be a question of present interest but just in a more modern way.The project proposes a new structure of various spaces and voids, where young artists could express themselves.An inspiration was an old board hanging on one of the inner court facades. On it was written “Kino fabrika Balkan” (cinema fabric Balkan) where the name of the project came from.What is the future? Is it relying only on the past or is it expressed trough future contemporary ideas. Or maybe the golden middle is the goal of the architects – to find the appropriate collaboration between past, history and spirit. A future city should preserve its history and memories in order every new intervention to be convincing and impacting.