FANTASTICO, one of Bulgaria’s premier retail chains, continues to drive its ambitious growth strategy and commitment to customer-centric innovation with the opening of its 48 location, a new commercial complex in Sofia’s Orlandovtsi district. With an investment of approximately 29 million BGN, the project represents a powerful intersection of architecture, technology, and a vision for future-facing retail.
Occupying 14,000 sq.m site and offering 4,707 sq.m of built-up area, the new complex integrates advanced design, intelligent systems, and an elevated customer experience to reflect the next generation of European retail destinations. It is designed by IPA - Architecture and more as a multifunctional urban hub, fusing retail, lifestyle, and sustainability into a unified vision for next-generation commercial space in Europe.
The design is anchored in a refined modern architectural language that balances visual presence with contextual sensitivity. A dynamic façade, generous glazing, and clean structural lines create a compelling architectural dialogue with the surronding environment. The material pallete, scale modulation, and spatial rhythm express a balance between slidity and transparency, grounding the building in its setting while inviting the customets inward.
Interior is optimized for openness, natural light and intuitive circulation. The layout is calibrated to accommodate a variety of customer flows, from express shoppers to families and individuals with mobility needs. Every design element reflects a commitment to human-centric retail architecture, that prioritize comfort, accessibility, and experience.
Adopting the “retail park” model, the Orlandovtsi complex integrates the flagship FANTASTICO store within a curated ecosystem of service and lifestyle tenants. This approach aligns with a broader European trend that transforms grocery retail into multi-experiential, community-oriented destinations.
Beyond the supermarket, the site features a cash desk for household bill payments and EasyPay money transfers, an SDI insurance office, a Subra pharmacy, and a Yettel mobile service center. The location also features Pepco and Sinsay fashion stores, automated parcel stations from Speedy, Econt, and Sameday, as well as an ATM from UniCredit Bulbank. A branch of the Bulgarian Sports Totalizator further enriches the service offering, creating a true one-stop destination for shopping and essential services.
At the heart of the complex is a deep investment in customer experience through technology and design. The store includes self-checkout stations, an sccessible checkout counter for employees with mobility impairments, and a network of electronic shelf labels and LED display panels that privide real-time product and promotional information. The facility also has one cash register, specially designed for the work of an employee with mobility difficulties.
The building operates an a centralized Building Management System (BMS) that actively monitors and controls energy consumption, HVAC, and lighting in real time. The refrigeration installations are of the highest class, operating with the natural refrigeratnt carbon dioxide, which ensures full utilization of waste heat and minimizing environmental impact. A photovoltaic installation is in development, reinforcing FANTASTICO’s broader commitment to sustainable energy and carbon-conscious development.
The new complex prioritizes accessibility and environmental integration. With 133 parking spaces, including EL Drive charging stations for electric vehicles and bicycle infrastructure, FANTASTICO supports multimodal transport and green mobility. The external realm is thoughtfully landscaped, integrating recreational green zones and a children’s play area, transforming the commercial footprint into a valuable civic asset.
With the launch of this store, FANTASTICO sets a new benchmark for retail architecture in Southeast Europe, demonstrating how design excellence, technological integration, and sustainability can converge to produce a commercial environment that is not only efficient but meaningful, adaptable, and resilient. As both a destination and a neighborhood anchor, the Orlandovtsi complex exemplifies a sophisticated retail vision in tune with the evolving dynamics of the contemporary European city.
