With respect for the past and care for the future, the team of IPA – Architecture and more joined the joint project of Sofia Municipality, Vazrazhdane District and the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” for the construction of an educational center in the heart of what was once Sofia’s largest Jewish neighborhood - Yuchbunar.
Respect for the past. Because with this project we pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews - an unparalleled and unique act of humanism in world history, carried out by the Bulgarian nation amidst the chaos and destruction of the Second World War.
Care for the future. Because we believe that by transforming the present into an aesthetic environment that fosters knowledge and creativity, we will give younger and future generations the opportunity to live in peace and harmony, where understanding and respect guide personal and societal well-being and development.
We designed the educational center as three separate but interconnected buildings - a school, a kindergarten and a cultural center with a large library. Each has its own defining detail, just as every stage of youth development has its characteristic features. For example, the building for the youngest children, which contains spacious and comfortable nursery and kindergarten rooms, “smiles” with its colorful window frames. The complex also includes a large sports center that will be available for use by local residents.
For the facade, we chose clean lines and simple forms - like a white schoolboard with enough space for imaginary battles between knights and dragons, or spaceships headed toward undiscovered galaxies. The colors - dark grey and white - are combined across different façade segments and elements to convey individuality while preserving the visual connection between the buildings. Terracotta and brick details appear on the facades of each building. In this way, we not only continue the architectural traditions of Jewish construction and create a spiritual affinity with the Sofia Synagogue, but also leave a message for children and young people: to remember that success is achieved through small and consistent steps, just as a building finds its strength and life brick by brick.
To give freedom to the emotions and imagination of the children and youth, we shaped the courtyard with calming greenery and age-appropriate areas for play, sports, rest and group activities, while also transforming the rooftops into gardens with rich vegetation and spaces for relaxation and interaction. In the courtyard, we also allocated space for a sports field for team games - a place not only for physical activity, but also for learning teamwork and achieving common goals through cooperation.
The safety of the complex is ensured with a metal bar fence, which we “hid” behind a green belt of shrubs. In this way, the team of IPA – Architecture and more left one more message to the younger generation: boundaries exist to provide order and security, but should never become a reason for division.
