Plovdiv Central Square

Role: Design Team Leader @ RAD Ltd.
Location: Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Client: Plovdiv Municipality/One Architecture Week
Year: 2014
Status:
Size: 237,580sqm
Program: Public space

Plovdiv is not a large city.
As a small town, it is important to have a strong center rather than a series of sub-centers that naturally form in large cities.
There is a need to redefine the scope and boundary for the proposal because the sum of parts determines the center.
At the moment, Plovdiv Central Square rather than drawing people inward, has done the opposite and pushes people outward to its perimeter. This has created a situation where it is more of the surrounding context that is well-defined with a clear identity.
We propose to counterbalance this centrifugal effect by creating a centripetal attraction inward toward Plovdiv Square. This is to be done by making use of three elements: A Ring (imaginary), Walls (architectural), and a Void (a constructed subtraction).