The project encompasses the concept development, design, and implementation of a new permanent exhibition for the Historical Museum of Dimitrovgrad. Developed following a competition commissioned by the Municipality of Dimitrovgrad and the America for Bulgaria Foundation, it aims to create a contemporary, multilayered museum environment that narrates the complex history of Bulgaria’s youngest city.

The concept was developed by an interdisciplinary team of architects, a curator, a historian, and a cultural anthropologist, with the support of communication specialists and external consultants. The project’s starting point was a fundamental question: “What is Dimitrovgrad?” — a city founded in 1947, built through voluntary youth brigades, and shaped by multiple, often contradictory identities.

The new exhibition builds upon the museum’s existing content and expands it through a clear conceptual framework and spatial reorganization. Across two main halls, three central themes are developed — “New Town” “New Human” and “New Life” — presented through multiple scales and formats, ranging from original artefacts to multimedia installations. The exhibition is conceived as a flexible and evolving structure, open to new narratives and reinterpretations.

The project introduces a model of museum experience grounded in discovery, surprise, and reflection. Visitors are positioned as active participants in the narrative — encouraged to explore, compare, and critically engage with the recent past within a broader historical context. In addition to the exhibition design, the project includes the development of a visual identity, museum merchandise, and communication elements aimed at reaching diverse audiences and supporting the institution’s long-term sustainability.

Team: Aneta Vasileva, Emilia Kaleva, Svetlana Kuyumdzieva, Alexander Vezenkov, Velislava Petrova, Iva Hasamska, Teodora Madanska, Viktoriya Dimitrova, Zekie Emin, Georgi Marhov, Rayya Marinova, Adriyana Mihaylova, Ivo Dimitrov, Filip Stamenkov 
Consultants: Martina Venkova, Аterlier 3 Architects