An exhibition and public discussion on May 20, 2019 presented the project for the renovation of St. "Malko Tarnovo" - one of the most iconic places and the shortest pedestrian street in the centre of Sofia. The exhibition can be seen until 5 June at the Archives Gallery on ul. "5 Moskovksa Street and includes historical facts, stories, archival footage, myths and legends that are hidden along the only 60 meters long Sofia street.
The gallery is also home to the Malko Tarnovo Street renovation project, which is being implemented as a public-private partnership initiated by the Sofia City Council, with the grant support of BLD, as part of its long-term urban beautification program, Building Difference, and architectural studio Atelier Serafimov Architects, donors to the renovation project. The exhibition is free to enter on weekdays.
The urban renewal project is inspired by the multifaceted and rich history that Sofia's shortest pedestrian street holds. It includes the renovation and replacement of dilapidated pavements along the street, new lighting, cleaning of facades and wiring, and the creation of an information system bringing to life narratives from different eras in Sofia's development as the capital of Bulgaria. At a modest 60 metres, the street holds memories and artefacts that bear witness to some of the most significant eras in Bulgarian history. Beneath the yellow cobblestones lie prehistoric remains from 4,500 BC, urban legends of the clock tower from the Renaissance era as well as memories of King Boris III and his beloved Luna Bar. There is also a secret door on the street to this day, sung about in rock ballads, behind which are the communist-era State Security cells. The historical information gathered will also serve as a blueprint for an information system that will preserve and tell the stories of Sofia's residents and visitors, and turn Malko Tarnovo Street into an even more beloved and iconic symbol of the city.
The public discussion of the project was attended by Malina Edreva, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science and Cultural Diversity of the Sofia Municipal Council, Silvia Hristova, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Spatial Planning, Architecture, Accessible Environment and Housing Policy, Arch. Zdravko Zdravkov, Chief Architect of Sofia Municipality, arch. Radomir Serafimov, Atelier Serafimov Architects - donor of the project proposal for the renovation of ul. "Malko Tarnovo, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihail Gruev, Chairman of the State Agency "Archives", Filip Boyadzhiev, lecturer at the National Academy of Arts and head of the project for orientation and visual communication to the main tourist sites in Sofia, prof. Nikolai Poppetrov, Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Dimitar Savov, BLD manager - donor of the renovation.