1. International Competition to Design a New Library in Varna
Between emotion and professionalism
Pencho Slaveykov Public Library - Varna

2. The Library BEFORE NOW The FUTURE
‘Pencho Slaveykov’ Public Library in Varna was established in the year 1883.
The Library is a depositary of Bulgarian national literature with an archival function until 1945.
BEFORE
NOW
The FUTURE
The new library building should:
Collect under one roof approximately library items, now spread in 6 different buildings;
Establish a modern library - comfortable and easy to use;
Create a new and active public space in the centre of the city for cultural, educational, social purposes;
Suggest a good alternative for recreation and leisure time.

3. The Beginning
“The library is the face of every town. That is the reason to recently announce an international competition at which to choose the best suggestion for a new home of Pencho Slaveykov Public Library in Varna.“ Ivan Portnih Town Mayor

4. Local Authorities’ Support
The competition is unique to the country for a public building with library and information, cultural, educational and entertainment purposes.
The expectation for the new library of the city is to be the first in Bulgaria for the last 30 years.

5. The Competition The competition was organized by:
Varna Municipality in cooperation with the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria
The independent architectural organization WhAT Association.
“Pencho Slaveykov” Public Library - Varna

6. The New Library Place
The choice of the location in the heart of the city is in support of the idea to create a modern library.

7. Organizers’ Responsibilities
Varna Municipality – the architectural stage
Prepare the documents needed for organizing and announcing the competition according to the Bulgarian legislation
WhaT Association
Communicate with the potential participants
Prepare a web site of the competition
Provide requirements for participation
Choose the members of the expert jury

8. Organizers’ Responsibilities (2)
Pencho Slaveykov Public Library
Create the functional model as a part of the general requirements
Conduct an information campaign
General for the three teams
Good cooperation and communication
Informal communication

9. Library Team Responsibilities
Create a team – choose experts with different professional profile
Librarian – expert in serving users
Librarian – expert in library and information processing and procedure interaction
Expert with engineering profile
Creative professional
The general condition is the whole team to be broad- minded and think ahead not only for the library profession but to create a new cultural and information space

10. Finalizing the Competition Requirements
Series of meetings between the library team and WhaT Association
Our functional model was built on several main requirements and expectations of the future library building

11. Functional Model
Developing of this functional model is one of the most challenging tasks for the Library team

12. Parameters vs. Vision NEW! Library items Building area
Building area
4 000 m  m2
Community parking
 m2
NEW!
The future library building must be in an alliance with the surrounding areas and spaces

13. Project Timetable Competition for an idea project
- Announcement: 7 September Submission deadline: 23 November 2015
- Awarding: November 2015
Architectural design - Beginning: September Deadline: Autumn 2017
Real construction phase - Beginning: Deadline:

14. The Big Competition Surprise...
The contest brought together 370 proposals from 66 countries:
Europe proposals
Bulgaria (86), Italy (29), Spain (15), France (12) ...
Asia – 62
India (13), China (9), Hong Kong (7), Japan (6), Iran (6) ...
North America – 41
USA (35), Canada (4), Mexico (2)
South America – 10
Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru
Africa – 6
Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda
Australia – 2

15. One Conclusion and an Intriguing Fact
The large number of submitted entities is a prerequisite for finding the most interesting and appropriate idea and can be used as a "manual" to track the trends in contemporary architecture
Intriguing:
The competition for "Guggenheim" museum in Helsinki, held in 2014, has gathered 1715 entities

16. International Jury
Highly qualified experts in building design and architecture from different continents and Bulgaria

17. Working on the Field

18. And the Winners are…

19. Project Dissemination
Please, meet our travelling exhibition!
Exhibition: The Competition for a New Library Building

20. Exhibition Travelling Places
First visit: ХХVІ National Annual Conference of Bulgarian Library and Information Association, Sofia, 9-10 June 2016
Second visit: Varna EXPO – construction, exterior, interior, Varna Palace of Culture and Sports, October 2016
Third visit: Annual Awarding Construction Exhibition, Grand Mall Varna, October 2016
And now: AT HOME

21. Thank you very much for your attention!
Tsvetelina Voycheva, PhD
Temenuga Kalcheva