Following the decision of the Municipality of Elin Pelin, the competition deadline has been extended by 8 days. Please see the updated schedule below.
The municipality of Elin Pelin is announcing an international architectural competition. It is looking for a new, contemporary look for the city center, renovation of public spaces, and creation of a modern, attractive, and comfortable living environment. The competition is open to participation and welcomes ideas from around the world.
Elin Pelin is a young but rapidly developing town in Bulgaria.
It bears the name of one of the most significant representatives of Bulgarian literature, a writer and poet who described the picturesque Bulgarian village and traditional life in Bulgaria.
The town is very close to the capital Sofia, but has its own character and identity, preferred for its peaceful life, far from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
The project is divided into two parts – Concept design for Zone 1: City center area within the scope of the roundabout at Stoyan Mihaylovski Street and Sofia Street, along the entire length of Sofia Street to the square in front of the Church of “St. Nicholay Chudotvorets”, including the existing parking lot, Nezavisimost Square and along the pedestrian zone on Vitosha Boulevard to Hristo Botev Street, and Development for Zone 2: Surrounding area – Standard for the elements of the urban environment and typical details
Two Honorary Mentions of 1 000 euro each.
The municipality of Elin Pelin will commission a technical and working design with an estimated value of €125,000 for design services, excluding VAT.
| 07.11.2025 | Official announcement of the competition |
| 07.11.2025 – 09.02.2026 | Time for preparation of the overall concept and development of the project |
| 08.02.2026 | Deadline for questions |
| 12.02.2026 | Deadline for registration on the platform and submitting the documents |
| 17.02.2026 | Deadline for submission of the projects |
| 18-19.02.2026 | Preparation for judging of the competition materials |
| 20.02.2026 – 16.03.2026 | Jury evaluation |
| 24.03.2026 | Announcement of the competition results |
Use of sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and solutions that ensure durability and easy maintenance of the environment.
Creating spaces that encourage social interaction, cultural activities, and accessibility for all, including people with special needs.
Integration of buildings and pedestrian areas into a unified visual and functional whole with a clear visual identity.
Ensuring good lighting, visibility, and safety, as well as improving the microclimate for a pleasant stay in all seasons.
Creating dynamic public areas suitable for various activities throughout the year – events, markets, celebrations, children’s activities, etc.
The competition projects will be evaluated by a panel of seven international jury members.
More information about the jury members coming soon.
BULGARIA
architect
Architect Borislav Krastev graduated from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in 2010. During and after his studies, he took part in numerous architectural competitions in Bulgaria and abroad, focused on urban planning and building design.
In his private practice, he has worked on urban development projects as well as residential, industrial, and public buildings. He has been a member of the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria since 2010, and since 2019 has also been a member of the Chamber of Civil Engineers and Architects of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, Austria, in connection with a hotel complex project in the Alps.
He joined the administration of Elin Pelin Municipality in 2018 and currently serves as Chief Architect of Elin Pelin Municipality.
BULGARIA
urban planner
Kaloyan is an urban planner with a master’s degree from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sofia and a specialization from the Vienna University of Technology. He has experience in urban environment and mobility analysis, spatial data processing, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
Kaloyan was part of the team behind the long-term strategic document of Sofia Municipality – Vision for Sofia 2050, where he coordinated research and proposals for goals and measures in two of the strategy’s seven thematic areas: Mobility and Urban Environment. He worked within the team of Sofiaplan – the administrative body of Vision for Sofia – and participated in the development of Program for Sofia.
BULGARIA
architect
Svetoslava Kolarova is an architect with over 30 years of professional experience in the design, reconstruction, and modernization of buildings and urban environments. She has been a long-standing member of the team at Albena Design Bureau Ltd. in Dobrich. Her professional practice includes resort complexes, residential buildings, public and cultural facilities, and interior design. During the period 2015–2016, a project by “Albena Design Bureau”, in consortium with “Architect” Ltd., was implemented after winning an award, for the reconstruction and modernization of the “St. George” City Park in the city of Dobrich. During the period 2024–2025, Stage 1 of the project for the development, improvement, and design of the central urban area of the city of Dobrich, including 25th September Boulevard, Vazrazhdane Square, and Svoboda Square, was implemented.
AUSTRIA
civil engineer
Timur Uzunoglu is a civil and structural engineer with over 25 years of international professional experience in engineering consulting, project management, and academic teaching. He is the founder and partner of several engineering and consulting companies across Austria, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, including convex ZT GmbH and convex consulting engineers. Since 2005, he has been a lecturer at FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Graz, where he is also actively involved in international study programs. His professional expertise covers large-scale industrial, energy, infrastructure, and hospitality projects, including hydrogen production plants, water treatment facilities, and five-star hotels. He has served as project manager, supervisor, and check engineer on complex international projects in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
NETHERLANDS
architect
Timur Shabaev is an architect and co-founder of DROM. He received an Advanced Master’s degree from The Berlage Institute in Rotterdam in 2010 and is a multiple-time winner of the Europan competition. Prior to co-founding DROM, he worked at OMA/AMO in Rotterdam, where he contributed to the design of the Garage and Hermitage Museums and was involved in developing the international educational programme at the Strelka Institute, teaching within its Public Space curriculum. At DROM, he leads large-scale projects that integrate urban design, architecture, and public-space strategies, including the Sobinco Industrial Campus in Belgium and Leven Park in Bishkek. Alongside his professional practice, Timur is actively engaged in architectural education, research, and international juries, with a particular interest in the intersection of architecture, public space, and education.
GERMANY
architect
Duy An Tran is an architect based in Berlin and partner of the office c/o now, an architectural practice taking care of imagining and realizing objects, architecture and urbanity, as well as the editorial revision of related issues.
c/o now won the 2023 Bauwelt Award for the project “Where the Wild Morels Grow” and has been longlisted and shortlisted for several projects for the Award for Architecture in Germany in 2024 and 2025.
Duy An Tran was a guest professor at the Architecture Faculty of Design at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, in 2024 and is currently teaching in the Department for Spatial Strategies at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel, Germany.
BULGARIA
architect
Architect Roussi Dellev graduated from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in 1993 with a degree in Architecture, specializing in the Department of History and Theory of Architecture. He completed a six-month professional internship at the Bauhaus in Germany.
He began his professional career at Bulplan Ltd., a company specializing in urban planning design and research. Since 1995, he has maintained an independent architectural practice, managing his own architectural studio. His professional expertise includes the design of residential and administrative buildings, as well as urban planning and development projects.
He has been a member of the Chamber of Architects since 2004. In 2022, he received a Special Award in Cultural and Historical Heritage from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. At present, he serves as Chair of the Sofia Province Regional Chamber.
RESERVE MEMBERS
BULGARIA
architect
Boyan Kolarov is a Master Architect, a graduate of the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy in Sofia. He works as an architect at Albena Design Bureau Ltd., where he is involved in architectural design, coordinates the design process across all disciplines, and carries out architectural supervision during construction.
From 2015 to 2019, Boyan Kolarov served as Deputy Mayor for Spatial Planning of the Municipality of Dobrich, where he was responsible for the implementation of key infrastructure and urban development projects. He played an active role in the development of the Global Dobrich initiative. From 2012 to 2020, he was Chairman of the Board of the Citizens+ Association, a public-benefit organization promoting active civic participation, cultural development, and the improvement of the urban environment in Dobrich.
BULGARIA
architect and curator
Georgi Nikolov is an architect and curator with a focus on urban research and interdisciplinary practices. In 2012, he graduated from RWTH Aachen in Germany. His professional career spans internationally, with practice in Germany, France and China. Since 2021, he is a member of Gradoscope, a multidisciplinary urban practice and organization that works on sustainable urban planning and facilitates collaboration between communities, policymakers and experts in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has led and curated exhibitions, conferences, and public initiatives focused on placemaking, architectural heritage, and participatory urban development, even awarded project funding under the New European Bauhaus 2022 initiative.
BULGARIA
architect
Miroslav Velkov is an architect and co-founder of the architectural studio Atelier 3, specialized in the field of heritage conservation. He holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, in Sofia, where he also teaches. A member of the Bulgarian National Committees of both the International Council on Monuments and Sites and International Council of Museums. He works in the field of cultural heritage interpretation, conservation and interpretation of archaeological sites, and the design of museum exhibitions and experiences. He believes that context is not only something we must take into account, but also a vast source of inspiration.
