The team at IPA – Architecture and more joined the project of the For Our Children Foundation and Sofia Municipality, contributing not only their full professional expertise, but also their whole heart. For the architects, the central goal in renovating the former “St. Sofia” Home for Medico-Social Care for Children and transforming it into a modern Early Childhood Development Complex was not only to create a comfortable, calm, and protected environment, but also to weave warmth and care into the very fabric of the architecture and interior design.
By applying the purity of white and the uplifting message of yellow to the facade, we transformed not only the outward appearance of the building but also its emotional impact. Where once it greeted visitors with stern formality, after the intervention of IPA – Architecture and more it now welcomes them with softness, kindness, and genuine concern.
The outdoor area has been fully redesigned. The guiding principle was to ensure accessibility and to provide a safe, pleasant setting for outdoor play and activities. The courtyard includes playgrounds with swings and climbing structures that support physical activity, suitable for children of different ages and for children with disabilities; an outdoor stage with seating for an audience; a gazebo and benches. Around the perimeter, landscaped green areas with shrubs and trees bring children closer to the beauty and tranquillity of nature.
The interior functional layout and spatial design are based entirely on contemporary practices for supporting children with disabilities, children with developmental challenges, and families in vulnerable situations. The complex brings together five centres that work in close collaboration, offering specialised support tailored to the needs of each child and family.
The ground floor houses the main foyer and several of the key centres. The basement level includes a hydrotherapy centre with full accessibility for children with disabilities. The first floor accommodates all administrative areas. The attic level has been adapted into a residential zone for guests of the foundation.
White was also chosen by the architects as the leading colour in the interior - not only for its calming effect and sense of openness, but because it allows the introduced colours to stand out even more vibrantly. Soft hues of blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, and red turn the furnishings and equipment into playful arcs of colour, encouraging imagination, curiosity, learning, communication, and physical activity. The spaces evoke the warmth and security of home while supporting the specialists’ work: the layout and organisation of rooms meet the requirements for both individual and group activities.
In addition to rooms for direct work with children and families, the complex includes spaces for training prospective adoptive parents, for foster families, and for programmes focused on violence prevention, the development of parental capacity, and more.
With full commitment and professionalism, the team at IPA – Architecture and more supported the specialists in their noble mission and created an environment that nurtures the emotional, intellectual, and physical development of children, while adhering strictly to the project’s specific requirements and allocated budget. This is a project we sealed with care and love.
