The Hole in Burgas: Three Projects for Cultural Utilization of a Vacant Site

Three projects will be subject to public discussion in Burgas to select the most appropriate option for exploiting the vacant land in the city center – known as "The Hole". After a competition, Burgas Municipality announced that proposals from teams from Italy and Egypt - "Unformed Design", "Tony Nachev" EOOD and "Roncelli Studio" from Denmark - have been selected.

All three developments envisage the construction of spaces related to culture and in line with a preliminary consultation with Burgas residents, in which citizens expressed a desire for more green areas and multi-functional zones for cultural and public events. 140 candidates from around the world participated in the competition.

Currently, the procedure has been challenged by a Polish company that failed to present its project to the jury. Following the conclusion of the appeal, Burgas Municipality will invite the top-ranked teams to personally present their designs to the Municipal Council and the public, the administration added. It is expected that the project which receives the widest approval from Burgas residents will be supported.

Geographical location of "The Hole"

The site known as The Hole is located in the central part of Burgas – near the Court House, "The Triangle" Square, Secondary School "St. Sts. Cyril and Methodius" and NHC Cultural House.

Cultural House - main cultural infrastructure

The Cultural House, built in the last century, was mainly refurbished and reopened in 2021. The reconstruction was implemented with combined financing under the Operational Programme "Regions in Growth" 2014–2020 through the Fund for Sustainable Cities and with funds from Burgas Municipality. Its total value amounts to over nine million levs, of which around four million levs are grant financial assistance, and over five million levs are secured through a loan.

Historical context of the site

The initial idea for this site, more than 35 years ago, was to build a City Universal Store. For this purpose, old buildings located in the cart in the northern part of "The Triangle" Square were demolished. Foundations were laid as well as a three-story steel-concrete structure. However, construction was suspended and the constructed one destroyed.

Legal disputes and ownership

According to the latest decision of the Burgas Regional Court on the case for division of the land, Burgas Municipality had joint ownership with four companies: "Marieta" EOOD (263.50 sq.m), "Museum" EOOD (250 sq.m), "Trandex Bulgaria" EOOD (63.49 sq.m) and "Trade House" EOOD (61 sq.m). The municipal administration in Burgas is the largest share - 10,989 sq.m.

Natural ecosystem and cleaning

In 2023 a joint study by students from German Language High School in Burgas and the "Biodiversity" Foundation showed that a natural ecosystem had formed in the vacant site for years. The research established more than 200 species of plants and animals. In May last year, the municipal administration undertook cleaning of the site.

Competition for reconstruction of the Cultural House

In 2014 a competition was held to select a project for reconstruction, which was won by "Moto" EOOD. The main repair was completed in 2021 and now the Cultural House is the largest and most modern space in the city for cultural events, having eight independent halls.

Expenses and financing

The total value of the Cultural House is over nine million levs, of which around four million levs are grant financial assistance, and over five million levs are secured through a loan.

Competition and public discussion

Burgas Municipality will invite the ranked teams to present their developments before the Municipal Council and the public. The project that receives the widest approval from Burgas residents will be supported.