At the initiative of Troyan Municipality and the management of the National Exposition, the GRADOSCOPE team invited students from the Faculty of Architecture in Sofia to conduct a summer school taking the Exposition site as a case study. The aim was to research and analyse its potential and issues, to participate in a discussion about its potential with the local community and to prepare a concept for the future development of its unused spaces.

Over the course of a week, the students gathered archival and current documentation and information to assess the condition of the buildings, held discussions with the architect and management of the complex and hosted a public discussion on their ideas and proposals with craftspeople and representatives of the local community.

The analysis and proposals were organised in two phases and four themes:

• ideas to improve the surrounding environment; 
• ideas to develop and actively use all the buildings;
• suggestions for branding the Exhibition based on its historic identity; 
• opportunities for working with people to attract more craftspeople and visitors to the National Exposition. 

The team developed and presented a complete use strategy and spatial plan for the buildings and site. The results from the summer school research project have been integrated into the future development plans for the National Exposition.

Participants: Viktoriya Dimitrova, Iva Hasamska, Yoana Kalomenska, Magdalena Andonova, Teodora Madanska, Raya Marinova, Yordan Yordanov

External collaborator: Nikola Yanev, DOCOMOMO Bulgaria

Explore more about this project: at GRADOSCOPE’s webpage.