“Gate Gardens” at Varna and Burgas airports wins “Building of the Year” 2025

The project “Gateway Gardens and interior renovation of Terminal 2 – Varna and Burgas airports”, implemented jointly with the investor Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, won an award in the national competition “Building of the Year 2025”. The award was presented in the category “Strategic Transport Infrastructure”, one of the highest and most prestigious categories in investment projects, architecture and construction in Bulgaria. The award recognizes Bulgaria's sea airports as leading examples of modern infrastructure in the country.

The award was presented to Alexander Georgiev, Head of “Planning, Design and Construction” at Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, during an official ceremony in Sofia, which was attended by representatives of state agencies, professional organizations, architects, engineers and leaders of leading companies in the industry. The presence of such a large number of professionals underscored the importance of the award for the concessionaire's team.

“Gate Gardens” represents a bold and rare concept for an “open terminal” in Europe, in which the open green spaces become part of the airport infrastructure. The project was implemented in parallel with the overall internal functional and architectural renovation of Terminal 2 and the two seaports. This new approach is not only an aesthetic solution, but also a response to the very specific operational requirements associated with Bulgaria's accession to the Schengen area.

The main goal of the project is a clear and seamless separation of passenger flows for destinations in and out of the Schengen area. This is combined with a fully updated commercial concept, developed jointly with the long-term partners of the airports, Nuance BG (part of Avolta Group) and Lagardère Travel Retail. In this way, functionality, safety and commercial value go hand in hand.

The scale of the investment is also impressive. Specialists from Germany, Spain, France and Bulgaria are involved in the design and construction. The total area of the project exceeds 4,000 square meters at Varna Airport and nearly 5,000 square meters at Burgas Airport. The chosen solutions allow for flexible reconfiguration of the individual construction zones, which allows for optimization of the built-up area according to seasonal loads and the needs of the operators.

“Gate Gardens” in Varna and Burgas are designed as a natural extension of the terminal buildings. They integrate operational zones, aircraft exits and commercial zones, as well as a carefully designed green environment. This approach is unconventional for traditional airport infrastructure, where passengers usually travel only in enclosed spaces made of glass, metal and concrete.

As a result, the operational capacity and flexibility of the two airports have increased significantly. The new infrastructure allows for faster and smoother adaptation to peak loads, especially those related to charter flights during the summer season. At the same time, the project sets high standards for sustainable development and environmental quality, offering passengers an experience that the Fraport Twin Star team describes as unparalleled in Europe.

This is a recognition not only for the architectural and engineering achievements, but also for the long-term strategy of the concessionaire for Varna and Burgas airports. The policy of “Fraport Twin Star Airport Management” AD is focused on the modernization, sustainable development and professional management of key public infrastructure, which is important not only for tourism, but also for the entire economy.

Michael Reisch, CEO of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD, commented: “This award is recognition of our long-term commitment to the development of Varna and Burgas airports as a modern, flexible and sustainable infrastructure, focused on the real needs of passengers and airlines. With the “Gate Gardens” project, we demonstrate that an airport terminal can be more than just a transit space – it can offer a high-quality environment, operational efficiency and adaptability to new requirements, including those arising from Bulgaria's membership in the Schengen area.”

Alexander Georgiev, Head of “Planning, Engineering and Design” at “Fraport Twin Star Airport Management” AD, added: “The best solutions are those that simplify the complex. The concept is based on established practices, transforming transport infrastructure into an environment that is not only used, but also experienced – a place where people choose to stay.”

The “Building of the Year 2025” award clearly confirms the status of Gate Gardens as a remarkable infrastructure project. It places Varna and Burgas airports among the leading European examples of innovative, sustainable and passenger-oriented terminals. The project is being implemented by “Fraport Twin Star Airport Management” AD as an investor, the architectural teams “Energoproekt” AD and “Quadrant A” OOD, and the contractor “Tehnoimporteksport” AD.

The “Building of the Year” competition itself has a long history. It was founded in 2002 and over the years it has established itself as the most prestigious forum for recognizing leading achievements in investment projects, architecture and construction in Bulgaria. It not only awards statues, but also sets standards for quality, environmental friendliness and aesthetics in the construction of modern environments – standards to which Gate Gardens now officially belongs.