site.btaInvestment Intentions Related to Sofia Building Designed by Leading Japanese Architect Cause Public Debate

Investment Intentions Related to Sofia Building Designed by Leading Japanese Architect Cause Public Debate

Sofia, June 9 (BTA) - Investment intentions aimed to develop superstructure of Marinela Hotel in Sofia have aroused the ire of architectural circles.

Marinela Hotel (formerly Sofia New Otani and Kempinski Zografski) was built at the end of the 1970s and was designed by leading Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.

The reconstruction of the hotel is an infringement on one of the masterpieces of the world-renowned architect. The complex is the only one of its kind in Eastern Europe, the President of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria, Georgi Bakalov, said at a BTA-hosted news conference. The Chamber of Architects also took part in the conference.

The building is a symbol of friendship and cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, Bakalov said. The owner of Marinela, who uprooted the Japanese cherries in the pedestrian zone a year ago, is changing the entire outlook of the building, constructs massive metal structures, changes the facade, adds superstructure and changes the interior according to his taste. This means violation of functional and spatial aspects, as well as the outlook of the hotel, the Union warns. According to the specialists, the reconstructions violate the Spatial Development Act and the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act.

In an interview for BTA architect Boyka Kadreva, who heads Spatial Planning at Sofia City Hall's Architecture and Urban Planning Department, recalled that in May 2015, when the owner company requested a ten-storey superstructure, the Chief Architect of the capital sent a letter to the Minister of Culture who has the competence to judge whether this building is cultural heritage and falls within the special protection mode requirements. The letter says that the undersigned are fully aware that the building is a city landmark and has a unique outlook thanks to the wonderful design of Kisho Kurokawa, who has also designed a number of remarkable buildings across the world. They consider it an honour for Sofia to have such a remarkable building, which the world famous architect designed in compliance with Bulgarian traditions. After that the architects suspended the procedure for issuing a permit expecting the Ministry of Culture to come up with a pronouncement, Kadreva said. She expressed regret that this has not happened so far.

"Now it is up to the Minister of Culture. However, we should be fair with both parties. The owners of the hotel are entitled to a relative quick response because they are investors," Kadreva said and appealed to the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage to come out with a pronouncement soon.

Kadreva also expressed regret that Bulgarian legislation in the field of cultural heritage does not provide sufficient protection for monuments of contemporary heritage.