Scary, dirty or attractive: ideas for the dungeons of Sofia
The dungeons of Sofia – tunnels, bunkers, underground rivers and other forgotten spaces, to become part of the cultural map of the capital. In this way, the appearance of the city will be enriched through both benefits for residents and due to the expected interest of tourists.
It was one of the highlights in the discussion « The Subway of Sofia », where experts, citizens, lawyers and politicians discussed the future development and the potential of these spaces. The event, organized by the Club « Sign » and the Optimistas Foundation, was held these days at the Heat Center.
The house prepared for demolition with the spirit of old Sofia will be saved
The organizers recalled that there are over 50 bomb shelters in Sofia, but many are not maintained, they have the status of a « dropped need » or it is not known who the owner is.
« This is a resource that is very close to us every day. It is in our city, but it does not participate in our daily routine, does not contribute to the economy, to tourism, to our prosperity, » said Veselin Alexiev of the Club « Sign », which has descended several times in the bunkers.
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« Such rooms can look scary and dirty to you, but in fact they can become attractive places. In Tirana (Albania) and Budapest (Hungary), similar spaces are used actively. We have to think about what to do with what we have around us, so it is not just a single -life place.
Adriana Dikancheva from the « Sign » Club said that there are different suggestions – from cellars to art spaces, cinema and photography, Larp (role -playing live games), escape rooms and museum archives.
« Our idea is to keep themselves as a space for protection. We get as feedback » now when the alarms play, will we go to an exhibition? «
The court decides to restore a valuable building in Sofia
Activists have said that the Sofia Municipality has so far clogged the entrances to these spaces, but they are breaking down, the grilles, if any, break, and go inside.
Sofia bunkers: a space for culture or protection
« I have a personal story with asylum, though indirectly. I owe them to be present here today between you, because during the bombing of Sofia, my grandmother with my infant father was hiding in a bombus in our building on Neofit Rilski. It is like my father, « said the mayor of the Triaditsa region Dimitar Bozhilov.
There are 16 bomb shelters in the area, 12 of which are in private properties, mainly in the central city area. According to the mayor, some are in very poor condition, but others are preserved. The most famous refuge in the area is the one in the South Park, which bears the official name « Object 301 ». It was built during World War II, but after 1989 it was abandoned.
According to Adv. Tsveta Yotsova the bunker in South Park officially « does not exist » as it does not appear in the cadastre – a situation characteristic of other similar sites.
Dimitar Bozhilov visited the bunker both in his childhood and in service when checking. He recalled that the facility had a capacity of about 2,000 people.
« It was quite well maintained a long time ago, but as you can see, it was oblivious and neglected. On the purely legal side, it was indeed abandoned. We are currently in the process of » adoption. « We have taken the steps to be found and really have the owner. In the official property document, « he added.
Some of the mayor’s proposals include the removal of temporary sites in the area and the formation of a completely new entrance to the South Park, the bunker and the late antique family tomb, located near it. The tomb is governed by the Regional Museum of History in Sofia and is controlled.
Lozenets Mayor Konstantin Pavlov, in whose area there are 16 bomb shelters, commented that projects for the transformation of such spaces into cultural sites can only be realized through specialized programs aimed at protecting cultural heritage or adapting non -traditional spaces for events and art. However, for this purpose, compliance with modern construction requirements must be ensured. « Inserting large groups of people underground into narrow rooms requires a good ventilation system, fire alarm, evacuation routes, accessibility for people with disabilities, as required by various regulatory documents, » Pavlov stressed.
According to him, it is suitable for this purpose in Lozenets is a bunker with an area of 2 acres, located near St. Naum Blvd and a school, for which procedures for the recording and issuance of an act of municipal property are underway.
A second life for the forgotten places: examples from Varna and Gabrovo
To turn a nearly 200 -year -old gunpowder into an independent art space – this is the history of Rebonkers in Varna.
The building was built by the Ottoman authorities as a gunpowder, but over the years it has become known as the « bunker ». In the 1990s, there was a club « Bonkers » – one of the first places for alternative music in Bulgaria. After 2000, the « bunker » declined and became a refuge for homeless. In 2017, the repair of the building is occupied by the Talyana Association, which works for the development of the creative potential of Varna and preserving the architectural heritage. 3-4 years ago, Rebonkers opened its doors again.
« The whole idea we were pursuing to revive the place was the old gangs to learn the new crafts and have an exchange. As the » heat -center « tries to develop communities and talk about cultural processes, we are trying to do so in Varna, » the arch said. Yavor Panev from the Optimistas Foundation, which is one of the initiators for restoring Rebonkers.
Another project that he and his colleagues from the foundation develop is the revival of a tunnel in Gabrovo.
« And this tunnel you see in the photo is not a bunker, it could go through it, but there was an abandoned space that was used as a construction landfill. Last summer we had fun to clear this place with the help of both people from Varna and Gabrovo. With junk, « he said.
On May 16 and 17, this abandoned tunnel will become a jazz scene during the Humor and Satire Carnival.
