Action plan
How will the former Textile Technical School in Gabrovo be transformed into the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Centre? On 25 September at 17:30, a presentation of the action plan took place and the stages in the structure for the redevelopment and modernisation of the building were presented by the architect and urban planner Lyubo Georgiev. We learned about the possibility of the large-scale project, the synergy between the activities and the role of art in the modernization of the city from the Mayor of Gabrovo Tanya Hristova and the curator Margarita Dorovska.
This section contains the following parts:
● What is this plan?
● The process so far
● In what context does this plan fit?
● The plan in a nutshell
What is this plan?
This plan describes the activities that must be undertaken to create a feasible investment project for the adaptation of the building of the former Textile Technical School in Gabrovo and its adjacent spaces for the needs of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Contemporary Art Center (CJC).
The plan was created in June 2024 by Lyubo Georgiev under contract No. 08/22.05.2024 with the Museum of Humor and Satire. The main parties responsible for the implementation of the plan are the Municipality of Gabrovo, the Museum of Humor and Satire, as well as other relevant institutions. The existence of such a plan allows all stakeholders to take coordinated, purposeful and productive actions for the construction of CJC.
The process so far
The action plan is a consequent step of a long process in which many people have invested knowledge, work and positive attitude. Efforts have been made to account for their contributions, but unintentional omissions are possible. A list of key activities already completed, arranged in time, is copied from the Cost Benefit Analysis document.
| DATE and EVENT | DETAILS |
| 1992 Idea for organizing a permanent exhibition in Gabrovo with posters of Christo | The event that started the idea of a lasting presence of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s art in Gabrovo in the public space, is the proposal of the 100 Vesti Newspaper, a permanent exhibition of the artists’ posters to be organized. The proposal is given from the pages of Issue No. 2/14.01.1992 as a reaction to the goal set by the then mayor of the municipality – Ivan Nenov, to open the city to the world and to attract the people of Gabrovo living abroad for the realization of this cause. |
| 2008 Proposal for the construction of a center for contemporary art | Civic Initiative “Our BIGGER Gabrovo” makes a proposal to the Municipality of Gabrovo to create a contemporary art center named after Hristo Yavashev-Christo. The Municipal Council accepted the proposal with its Decision No. 113/19.06.2008. The proposal is the result of a written communication between the representatives of the initiative and Christo and Jeanne-Claude. |
| 2013 Provision to theMunicipality of Gabrovo of50 posters ofChristo’s projects for the contemporary art center needs | After resolving legal disputes between Yavashevi and the Municipality of Gabrovo regarding expropriated and subsequently restituted real estate, taking into account the strategy of the municipality for the development of Gabrovo, the parties sign an agreement approved by Decision No. 98/30.05.2013 of the Municipal Council – Gabrovo. According to the terms of the agreement: – Christo provides 50 posters of completed project works that should be used solely for the needs of the future center for contemporary art;- The municipality of Gabrovo receives the right to use the name “Christo and Jeanne-Claude” as the brand of the future center and undertakes to create it within 10 years from the signing of the agreement |
| 2013 Adoption of the Strategy for the Development of Culture in the Municipality of Gabrovo (2014-2024) | The creation of a contemporary art center to carry the name of Christo has been defined as one of the key tools for achieving the priorities and goals of the Strategy for the Development of Culture in the Municipality of Gabrovo (2014-2024), adopted by Decision No. 198/03.10.2013 of the Municipal Council – Gabrovo. The strategy envisions the creation of a cultural organization that will have a leading role in the intentions to modernize and expand the cultural content in the visual and plastic arts sector, offered by the cultural organizations on the territory of the Municipality of Gabrovo. The strategic document places the center as a main component of a complex of objects and projects, through the implementation of which Gabrovo will establish itself as an attractive destination for artists and audiences from Bulgaria and the world as a whole. Attracting young authors and increasing the influx of young audiences have been determined as priorities. The purpose of the future center for modern art is to become an emblem of Gabrovo, both because of its architectural appearance as well as because of the activities that will be developed. |
| 2017 Organization of the exhibitions “Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Projects” and “Born in Gabrovo” | Civic Initiative “Our BIGGER Gabrovo” makes a proposal to the Municipality of Gabrovo to organize an exhibition “Christo and Jeanne-Claude”. The proposal is supported by the Museum of Humor and Satire, as a result of which the Municipal Council – Gabrovo provides the unspent amount from the Culture Program to the museum for the needs of organizing an exhibition and accompanying events. The exhibitions are organized with the support of: Bulgarian National Television, State Archive – Gabrovo, Regional Library “Aprilov – Palauzov”, Regional History Museum – Gabrovo, National Aprilov High School, National High School for Applied Arts “Trevnenska School”, 2nd Secondary School “Neofit Rilski” and “Vasil Levski” Primary School. |
| 2018 Exhibition “Born in Gabrovo” | Exhibition “Born in Gabrovo” held in the Credo Bonum Gallery, Sofia. The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Humor and Satire, the Municipality of Gabrovo and the Civic Initiative “Our BIGGER Gabrovo”. |
| 2021 Organization of the “Cristo. De Gabrovo à l’Arc de Triomphe” exhibition | Organization of the “Cristo. De Gabrovo à l’Arc de Triomphe” (Christo. From Gabrovo to the Arc de Triomphe) exhibition in the gallery of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris. The exhibition is organized by the Museum of Humor and Satire and the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Paris, with the support of the Municipality of Gabrovo and the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. |
| 2021-2022 Acquisition of a building for the construction of the center | In connection to the decision described in No. 769/12.10.2022, the Council of Ministers transfers to the Municipality of Gabrovo the right of ownership of the building of the former Professional High School for Textiles and Fashion Design free of charge (building with identifier 14218.504.402.3 according to the Cadastral map and the cadastral registers of the city of Gabrovo) for the establishment of the center within a period of 5 years. In fulfillment of the decision, a contract was signed for the free transfer of property rights in favor of the Municipality of Gabrovo. |
| 2022 Innovation Camp | Concept workshop for the creation of a Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center for Contemporary Art in Gabrovo to add value to the identity of Gabrovo. The idea is complemented by the organization of the Gabrovo Art Festival and the creation of a shared vision and policy for art in the public environment. |
| 2023 Presentation ofthe center | Presentation of the essence and aspirations of the center in events held outside Gabrovo, including abroad:- Architecture Biennale 2023, in the courtyard of the Bulgarian Pavilion in Venice, where on July 1 the functions and program of the center were presented as part of a program including a panel discussion and the exhibition “Education is a movement from darkness to light”;- The Open Buzludzha 2023 Festival, on the meadow in front of Mount Hadzhi Dimitar in Central Stara Planina, where on August 12 the center is featured as part of a lecture panel dedicated to bringing buildings to life through contemporary art and culture;- Festival “48 Hours Varusha south”, in community center “Nadezhda 1869” in Veliko Tarnovo, where the CJC Center was presented on August 20 as part of a discussion on the topic “Formation of architectural sensibility and ethics”. |
| 2023 Open doors | Conducting a series of events in and around the building, aiming to explore possible activities, relationships and perceptions through the implementation of temporary projects on the grounds of the center, prior to the complete shaping of a physical environment. |
| Expert help within the New European Bauhaus framework | Creation of an action plan and assignment for the Center. |
In what context does this plan fit?
The successful implementation of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center is tied to, and sometimes dependent on, several other processes, initiatives, or organizations.
The concept for the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI)
“Shores of modernity – a complex of measures to create a green, innovative and inclusive urban environment in Gabrovo and Plovdiv” is a concept in which the transformation of the former textile technical school into a center for contemporary art occupies a significant place. The foreseen investments include the creation of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center in Gabrovo, the renovation of the Cosmos Cinema in Plovdiv, the renovation of the Museum of Humor and Satire in Gabrovo, the renovation of the Orlovets Sports Hall in Gabrovo, improvement of the riverside area of Yantra, purchase of equipment and furnishings, skill development and upskilling activities, measures to include vulnerable groups, especially creative industries, transfer of technology and knowledge.
The indicative total value for the realization of the infrastructure part of the concept is BGN 34,100,000 and this covers the institutionalization and sustainable development of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center, purchase of land, holding of an international architectural competition, design, construction and assembly works, copyright and construction supervision, supply of equipment and furniture, etc. In case that the concept is approved, funding will be requested under Priority 2 of the Regional Development Program for the period 2021-2027. Partners for this specific part of the concept are the Municipality of Gabrovo, the Ministry of Culture and the Toplocentrala Centre for Contemporary Arts. The term for the implementation of the described activities is 36 months, counted from the moment of approval of the submitted funding requests (this is expected to happen by the end of 2024).
The implementation is planned to go through the following stages:
● Stage 1 – Development of a model for functioning and management – a significant part of the work on this stage was already carried out in 2023. There are several documents available, indicated below in the list of collected information, section PROGRAM and FINANCE, which need to be synthesized into a common one.
● Stage 2 – Conducting an architectural competition (this and subsequent stages are to come)
● Stage 3 – Assignment of design and author supervision
● Stage 4 – Construction and assembly works (remodeling and repair of the building) and construction supervision
● Stage 5 – Purchase and delivery of equipment and furnishing
Detailed information can be found in the project proposal.
| The implementation of the Center is directly linked to the successful implementation of the ITI concept. Due to the significant amount of the investment (over BGN 34 million) and the lack of identified alternative sources of funding, it is necessary that every single action related to the establishment of the Center be in sync with this concept. |
| It is necessary to finalize the functioning and management model as quickly as possible and to register the relevant legal entity. |
Competition for the Riverside Area
Excerpt from the Riverside Renovation Project
In 2022 and 2023, an architectural competition was held for a project for the renovation of the riverside space in the area where the former textile technical school is located. The implementation of the selected project is conceived as another element of the concept “Shores of Modernity – a complex of measures to create a green, innovative and inclusive urban environment in Gabrovo and Plovdiv”. BGN 17,300,000 + BGN 4,200,000 have been earmarked for it. The design team that won the competition is expected to produce a working project. The contractor is the Municipality of Gabrovo.
In the context of the cited ITI concept, the two processes – the renovation of the riverside space and the transformation of the former Textile Technical School – are expected to run in parallel. In reality, the first process is already advanced – a competition has been held, a concept project has been selected and work is being done on the next design phases. This means that by the time the terms of reference for the architectural competition for the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center are drawn up, it is possible that decisions have already been made about the contact area between the two sites, which the Centre’s designers will have to take into account. As of now (June 2024), the waterfront designers have not gone into detail in the design of the contact zone and do not foresee interventions that would have a significant impact on the design of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center. If there are any in the future, they will mostly be related to the organization of traffic and landscaping, which are related to the functional operating schemes of the center proposed in the competition.
The plan in a nutshell
The activities in this plan are organized into three main groups:
| 1. Preparatory activities – systematization of the existing feasibility studies and their addition with necessary new ones, as well as clarification of the functional program, work model, synergy with other activities.2. Organization and conduct of an architectural competition for the selection of a project for the renovation of the building and the adjacent space.3. Administrative steps that need to be taken after the competition. |
This section contains the following parts:
● List of information collected/created so far
● List of information that needs to be collected
● Actions related to the ownership of buildings and landed properties
● Actions related to zoning status
● Finalizing a functional program
● Finalizing a future management model
● Temporary activities
● Creating an assignment for an architectural competition
List of information collected/created so far
Conducting pre-project studies and other preparatory activities is necessary in order to be able to create a quality assignment for an architectural competition, as well as to carry out legal, administrative and other types of activities, without which the successful implementation of the renovation will be difficult, or even impossible. An assignment for a competition is qualitative when it takes into account the real situation in an objective manner, and sets the desired direction for development in a clear and precise manner. On the other hand, there are activities not related to the competition, the timely implementation of which depends on the timely implementation of the CJC. The research activities listed that need to be performed are the optimal set of research. They can always be extended, but this would increase the time as well as increase the financial resource required. An optimal balance is selected. We do not aim to explore everything, but only what is really necessary.
| Information | Compiled by | Compiled in | Useful for |
| TECHNICAL | |||
| Structural parameters | Yavor Panev | 2023 | Change of regulation and assignment for the competition |
| Architectural captures | Yavor Panev | 2023 | Assignment for the competition |
| Technical passport | Plamen Hristov | July 2023 | Assignment for the competition |
| Construction surveying | Plamen Hristov | July 2023 | Assignment for the competition |
| PROGRAM and FINANCE | |||
| Informal estimate of the required investment | Plamen Todorov | February 2024 | Assignment for the competition |
| Cost-benefit analysis and management model | Martin Zaimov and Hristo Harlov | November 2023 | Functional program and work model |
| Vision and business model (NEB Gabrovo – Vision & Business Model & Governance) | Jens Bley | June 2023 | Functional program and work model |
| Architecture competition assignment concept(Initial Architectural Brief) | Henning Larsen | June 2023 | Assignment for the competition |
| Concept | unclear | March 2023 | Functional program and work model |
| Summary (CJC Center_Analysis for competition preparation) | Margarita Dorovska, Martin Zaimov, Daniel Nenchev, Plamen Todorov | March 2023 | Functional program |
| Concept for Integrated Territorial Investment | team of Gabrovo Municipality and partners | January 2024 | Assignment for the competition and work model |
| CONTEXT | |||
| History of the building – archive | unclear | unclear | Assignment for the competition |
| Photos of the building | Rosina Pencheva | February 2021 | Assignment for the competition |
| Competition for the riverside area | ARK PROJECT LTD | January 2023 | Assignment for the competition |
List of information that needs to be collected or created
1. Vegetation survey and assessment. The information will be useful for evaluating the ecological qualities of the territory, which in turn is necessary for judging the type of landscaping that the participants in the competition would propose and/or which they must comply with. (in range 2)
2. Creating a digital terrain model (DTM) after carrying out a geodetic survey of the terrain, which builds on the architectural survey of the building. The information will be useful in providing a single three-dimensional model for the contestants to handle. (in range 3)
3. Acquisition of samples from existing specialized maps of engineering networks and facilities. (in range 2) The information will be useful in the assessment of the existing infrastructural provision and the possibilities/necessities of its upgrading. Samples should be obtained from the relevant utility company and should include:
○ pipes and equipment of the water supply network
○ wires and equipment of the electrical network
○ wires and equipment of the heat transmission network
○ wires and equipment of the telecommunications network
4. Construction of a three-dimensional model of the existing buildings and terrain, as well as the maximum allowable construction parameters according to the current detailed development plan. The information will be useful for achieving comparability in the visualization of the project proposals, as well as for the designers themselves when forming their project. It will also give clarity to designers about the possibilities of working with the terrain, for example in the context of stormwater management. (in range 2)
5. Functional analysis – mapping the functions around the building. The information will be useful for functionally linking the new building to the wider context. (in range 1)
6. Demographic analysis – immediate context. It will require the purchase of georeferenced data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The information will be useful for understanding the functional program of the new building in the context of potential users in the closest vicinity. (in range 1, or at a distance of 10 min walking)
7. Demographic analysis – the whole city. Freely available data from NSI on purchasing power, demographic structure, level of education, trends in population growth can be used. The information will be useful for tying the future functions of the Center to the demographic profile of the residents of Gabrovo. (within the city of Gabrovo)
8. Analysis of transport flows and infrastructure – current and projected. Car traffic as well as pedestrian, bicycle and public transport services are analyzed. The information will be useful for the determination of transport approaches to the site, as well as the optimization of transport flows. (in range 1)
9. Assessment of capacity for renewable energy production in/around the site, including the creation of an energy community around the Center. Includes calculation of solar potential and drilling to assess geothermal potential. The information will be useful for determining the most effective approach to the management of energy flows and consumption of the site.
10. Energy audit of the building. The activity is mandatory in order to be able to determine the appropriate energy efficiency measures in order to be able to meet the ITI requirement to “achieve a very high level of energy efficiency (nearly zero-emission building)” as well as due to the legal requirement for creation of a technical passport.
Actions needed
| 1. Assignment of the surveys listed.2. Presenting the collected information in an accurate and adequate manner in the assignment for an architectural competition. |
Actions related to the ownership of buildings and landed properties
Map showing the buildings and landed properties within the scope of the future center
Actions related to the properties (buildings and grounds) are necessary, without the implementation of which the process will not be able to be brought to a successful end. A key fact that requires a choice to be made for the spatial scope of the project is that the landed property (14218.504.401) in which the school building is located is co-ownership between the Municipality of Gabrovo and natural persons. In addition, on the same property there are several buildings (see map) that are entirely privately owned.
The question has two dimensions – real estate and structural. The structural one is discussed in the next part of this section of the document.
Looking at the matter from a property law point of view, there are four options for action:
1. Smaller project scope. This would mean the separation of a landed property with a total area of ±10,200 sq.m., combining about 60% of property 14218.504.401 and all of properties 14218.504.402 and 14218.504.403. Depending on the share of the different owners of property 14218.504.401, it is likely that it will be necessary to purchase a part of this property from one (the Municipality) or the other (natural persons). With this option, there will be only one building on the property, namely that of the former textile school. The exact boundary of the division of property 14218.504.401 must be determined in a dialogue between the co-owners. This option fits into the hypotheses of Art. 21 of the Law on Municipal Property.
2. Broader project scope. This would mean the separation of a landed property with a total area of 13,858 square meters, combining in their entirety properties 14218.504.401, 14218.504.402 and 14218.504.403. This option requires the Municipality of Gabrovo to buy out the shares of the natural persons who are co-owners in landed property 14218.504.401, as well as the buildings, privately owned, located in the same property (14218.504.401.4, 14218.504.401.5, 14218.504.401.6, 14218.504.401. 7 and 14218.504 .401.8) in accordance with Article 21, Para. 4 of the Law on Municipal Property. In this option, the purchase will be subject to a market agreement between the parties and will require the private owners to be willing to sell. The Municipality has no legal leverage to force them if they do not want to. Also consider the actions related to the zoning status described below.
3. Expropriation. In this option, the Municipality is proceeding with an amendment to the Detailed Development Plan (see also below in the section Actions related to the zoning status), providing for the construction of objects – public municipal property. In this case, the process follows what is described in Article 21, Para. 1 of the Law on Municipal Property. For this purpose it is also necessary to update the Strategy for the Management of the Municipal Property of Gabrovo (Art. 8, Para. 8 of the Law of Municipal Property), in order to add to it the CJC Center as an object of primary importance, and in this connection to designate property 14218.504.401 for expropriation. With this option, the possibility of refusal of the private owners to transfer their ideal parts to the municipality is eliminated. The risk in this case is related to the fact that the private owners will be able to appeal the amendment of the DDP, which provides for the expropriation of their properties, or parts of properties.
4. Broad incorporation into a new legal entity. In this option, the Municipality of Gabrovo creates, together with the co-owners, as well as other key stakeholders, a legal entity – a cultural organization. Different partners participate in different ways – with a property, with a program, with funding, etc. This means that the municipality should not buy the private properties (parts of properties), but should involve them in the creation and management of the future center. However, this would require significant mediation skills and invested time on the part of the Municipality over a long period in order to maintain a constant dialogue and reach a legally regulated consensus. This option makes the work of the Center dependent on the intentions of very small private landowners.
The scope of the project includes the following existing buildings:
| Identifier | Built-up area (sq.m.) | Property type in cadastral map | Type of property in the property register | Action required | Who should do it |
| 14218.504.401.3(NB: by 12.10.2027 The Municipality of Gabrovo must create the CJC Center on this property. If it does not, the State has the right to reclaim possession of the property). | 2737 | statepublic | municipal | registration of the property as municipal property in the Agency for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre | employee of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.401.4 | 486 | private | private | negotiations with the owners and possible buyout | representative of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.401.5 | 40 | private | no information available in the online portal | to be checked at the Registration Agency | employee of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.401.6 | 305 | private | private | negotiations with the owners and possible buyout | representative of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.401.7 | 81 | private | private | negotiations with the owners and possible buyout | representative of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.401.8 | 80 | private | no information available in the online portal | to be checked at the Registration Agency | employee of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
The buildings are located in the following landed properties:
| Identifier | Built-up area (sq.m.) | Property type in cadastral map | Type of property in the property register | Action required | Who should do it |
| 14218.504.401 (NB: this property includes the northern part of the textile school building, as well as other private buildings) | 9223 | co-ownership | co-ownership | negotiations with the owners and possible buyout of their share | representative of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.402 (NB: this property includes the southern part of the textile school building) | 3443 | statepublic | private (Professional Technical High School “Dr. N. Vasiliadi”) | transfer of property from the State to the Municipality | Regional Governor and employee of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
| 14218.504.403 | 1192 | municipalpublic | no information available in the online portal | entry of the property in the Property Register | employee of the Municipality of Gabrovo |
NB: The information described in the tables is current as of June 5, 2024.
Actions needed
| 1. Perform the actions described in the above two tables.2. Collection of all existing documentation affecting the ownership of natural persons within the scope of the project and financial assessment of all shares.3. Contact and communication with the private owners in order to map their intentions.4. Based on the above – formation of the position of the Municipality. Also consider the structural aspect described below. |
Actions related to zoning status
Extract from the current detailed development plan
The zoning status of the properties is determined in the first place by the General Development Plan of the Municipality, and subsequently, in more detail, in a Detailed Development Plan.
General Development Plan (GDP)
At the time of the compilation of the present action plan (June 2024), the process of drawing up the General Development Plan of the Municipality of Gabrovo, which is at the stage of discussion and agreement on a preliminary project, is still ongoing. In it, the considered territory falls into the area Territories with public service activities in 01C (Mixed central area). The purpose of these areas corresponds to the ambition to create the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center. In the context of the present task, it is important to bear in mind that the zone requires a minimum of 30% of the terrain to be landscaped with tree vegetation. However, it is impressive that the symbol for an educational facility (school) is again used for the area. It is important that the attention of designers is paid to this detail when developing the final design of the GDP.
Detailed Development Plan (DDP)
In the current DDP, the considered properties (14218.504.401, 14218.504.402, 14218.504.403) fall into Regulated Landed Property II (RLP II) from quarter 111. The assignment is “for a textile technical school”. This necessitates an amendment of the DDP, with which the land lots will receive an allocation suitable for the new function (“for a cultural center”, “for a cultural object”, or similar). There are three aspects that must be taken into account when amending the DDP:
1. Private individuals, co-owners in property 14218.504.401 must agree to the amendment. This is a potential obstacle, as they have no obligation to comply with the municipality’s intentions. From this point of view, it is probably more reasonable for the share of the private owners in property 14218.504.401 to be bought by the municipality (option 2 from the previous section), or to go through a procedure for amending the DDP, which implies expropriation.
2. The new arrangement must be in accordance with the final draft of the GDP. At the preliminary project stage, this is the case which does not require new actions.
3. Art. 39, Para. 3 of the Territorial Planning Act stipulates that “a change in the purpose of a building or a part of a building – object of education, science, health care or culture, can be carried out under the conditions and according to the order of this law only after written consent of the relevant minister.” Accordingly, it is necessary to seek such written consent as soon as possible.
Actions needed
| 1. Amendment of the DDP in order to determine a new allocation for the RLP II from quarter 111. This amendment can be processed ex officio by the municipal administration. Contact with the private owners is also necessary for the successful implementation of this action.2. Entry to the Ministry of Education of a request to change the purpose of the building.3. Drawing attention to the designers of the GDP to remove the “school” symbol from the considered territory.4. In the final draft of the GDP, the zone should remain the same as in the preliminary draft of the GDP – Mixed Central Zone. |
Finalizing a functional program
The information collected so far regarding the future functions of the Center (listed above in the list of information collected, section PROGRAM and FINANCE) is sufficient, but needs to be ordered; priorities, scope and relationships between functions should be indicated. This activity may be commissioned as part of the development of the terms of reference for the architectural competition.
Finalizing a future management model
It is necessary to compile a single document using the existing work in this direction, described above in the list of collected information, section PROGRAM and FINANCE. The management model must be in sync with the functional program, be developed in cooperation with RCCA “Toplocentrala” (requirement of ITI) and must include:
● vision, development strategy, short-term and long-term goals
● organizational structure
● financial plan
● tools for achieving sustainability in a broad sense (it is appropriate to take into account the increasingly wide practice of ESG standards).
Temporary activities
The physical transformation of the grounds and spaces is only part of the efforts that must be made to build the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center. Another essential part is the positioning of the place on the cultural and mental map both in Gabrovo and in a wider, national and world context. For this purpose, it is important to continue the activities in/around the building, which achieve precisely such an effect. In most cases, these will be temporary activities, and over time they should become more and more intense and more sustainable. These activities also provide an opportunity for content, team and financial/management model testing.
This document presents only a few of the possibilities and is by no means exhaustive. A good opportunity for the implementation of activities that will position the future center on the map is provided by the tools and resources provided for in the Concept of Integrated Territorial Investment named “Shores of modernity – a complex of measures to create a green, innovative and inclusive urban environment in Gabrovo and Plovdiv”. Detailed information can be found in the project proposal.
As of June 2024, the concept is still awaiting its final approval. In the event that it receives one, its implementation will become possible after the governing bodies of the various financial instruments on which the concept relies make the application possible. This is expected to happen by the end of 2024 at the latest. From the moment of approval of the submitted funding requests, the terms described in the concept will also begin to run.
The concept describes two activities that can serve the described purpose:
● Technology and knowledge transfer – summer school, library, accelerator, etc. The budget is BGN 1,436,000, and the funding was requested under the Scientific Research, Innovation and Digitalization Program for Intelligent Transformation. Responsible for the implementation is the “Ambitious Gabrovo” Regional Innovation Center. The start is planned in the 5th month (from the moment of approval of the submitted funding requests), and the activities will last 24 months.
● Skills development, social inclusion and employment promotion – upscaling. The budget is BGN 350,000, and the funding was requested under the Human Resources Development Program. The municipality of Gabrovo is responsible for the implementation. The start is foreseen in the 13th month (from the moment of approval of the submitted funding requests), and the activities will last 24 months.
Creating an assignment for an architectural competition
The development of terms of reference for an architectural competition can be started once the information described above has been gathered, the functional program has been finalized and the future model of work has been determined.
The assignment should contain at least the following elements:
1. Objectives of the competition
2. General principles and guidelines for intervention
3. Detailed functional program
4. Requirements related to the operation of the future building, the appearance, the landscape, the materials, the construction technologies, the effect on the environment and the use of resources, energy, access and other specific requirements, exceeding those established by law, with which the designers must comply
5. Mandatory, recommended and undesirable project elements
6. Context – historical, spatial, ecological, social, transport, infrastructural, structural, etc.
7. Regulatory restrictions
8. Legal framework – selection of procedure for conducting the competition
9. Schedule of the competition and indicative schedule for the implementation of the CJC Center
10. Requirements for phasing of processes – design, coordination and implementation
11. Documents for participation, design and submission of the competition projects
12. Procedure for conducting the competition
13. Jury – names of the jurors
14. Evaluation criteria and method of evaluation
15. Prizes and method of their payment
16. Next steps
17. Applications containing quality and reliable information
In the ITI described at the beginning of the present plan, it is mentioned that the goal of the reconstruction of the former textile school is “to achieve a very high level of energy efficiency (a building with almost zero emissions).” This must necessarily be laid down as a requirement in the terms of reference for an architectural competition.
References for well-prepared assignments are as follows:
● Competition for Central Square, Plovdiv (2014)
● Competition for Library in Varna (2015)
● Competition for Toplocentrala (2016)
● Competition for Karin Dom, Varna (2019-2020)
● Competition for the City Center, Dobrich (2022)
● Competition for Center for Experimental Puppetry (2023)
It is good practice, once compiled, to have the assignment tested by at least two different design teams before it is made public. This will allow the correction of errors and omissions.
It is also highly recommended that after testing the assignment, its main aspects (not in its entirety, so as not to create an opportunity for unfair competition) are discussed in two ways – a public presentation to the local community (on-site presentation) as well as to the national design community (uploaded on the website of the Center and sent with targeted letters to the Chamber of Architects and the Union of Architects). In both cases, time should be provided for receiving feedback (about three weeks recommended), as well as for its processing and reflecting corrections in the assignment.
Organization and conduct of an architectural competition
This is the next essential stage of the transformation of the building and the spaces around it. The organization and conduct of an architectural competition can begin only after the activities described above in this document have been completed:
● collection of the information described in this document
● finalizing the functional program
● finalizing the future work model
● creating a task for an architectural competition
It is reasonable to work on the following activities in parallel:
● actions related to the ownership of buildings and landed properties
● actions related to the zoning status
The organization and conduct of an architectural competition must go through the following stages:
1. Engagement by the Municipality of Gabrovo of a team to organize and conduct the competition
2. Description of the conditions of the competition, the schedule and the requirements for the participants
3. Coordination of these conditions with the Municipality of Gabrovo
4. Seeking and processing feedback on the prescribed terms from industry organizations – Chamber of Architects, Union of Architects, Union of Urban Planners, Union of Landscape Architects, Chamber of Investment Design Engineers
5. Finalization of the content of all materials for the competition – texts, graphics, images, maps, etc.
6. Graphic layout of the materials for the competition
7. Create a website
8. Announcement of the competition and corresponding communication campaign
9. Answers to questions, information sharing and technical support of communication channels
10. Ensuring technically trouble-free acceptance of the applications within the announced period
11. Communication and logistics related to the judging process (the members of the jury are already announced when the competition is announced) – access to information, transport and accommodation
12. Implementation of the steps provided by law for opening, evaluating and publishing the bids and the selection of the winner.
The appropriate legal form for conducting a competition of this type is an open competition for a project in accordance with Art. 89 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Law on Public Procurement, in connection with Art. 18, Para. 1, item 11 and Art. 80 of the Law on Public Procurement.
Administrative steps after the competition
After the competition, the following administrative activities must be carried out:
● payment of fees to jurors of the competition
● payment of fees to contest winner(s)
● sending an invitation to conduct negotiations with the winner of the competition for the conclusion of a design contract in the technical and working project phase
● coordination of the project with the interested parties, which will have a direct relation to the financing and management of the Center
● issuing a building permit
The list includes basic activities and it is possible that their number will increase, depending on the outcome of the competition, as well as the outcome of the activities related to the development status and ownership. The responsible party for all these activities must be the Municipality of Gabrovo. The deadlines quoted below are based on standard practice and depend on the speed of action of both the Municipality and the coordinating institutions, as well as the persons with whom contracts are signed.
The activities, those responsible for them, as well as the necessary funding, are arranged in time in the following appendix: CJC Center_schedule-responsibilities-financing