BANKYA PUBLIC BATH

For the past few years the Bankya District, which is a part of Sofia metropolitan area, is looking for new opportunities of regeneration for its historical public bath building, located in the very center of the town. It is planned to be a modern SPA, following the global trend of renovating historic buildings for thermal and well being activities.

This conceptual proposal aims to meet different points of view and to follow the main development trends of the city, to create a national spa resort that would also support the recovery process of cultural and historical monuments at national level. The project proposal will offer vision for:

• sustainable regeneration of the building, where to establish long-term functionalities as a public SPA center;
• new development ideas ;
• innovations as a small library offering books, free wifi, a coffee bar with refreshments and a variety of healthy food;
• a sense of connection with nature, owing to the large green park space with beautiful gardens, around the building

The proposed project area is located in Bankya. Situated in the city center, but at the same time - surrounded by a small pedestrian park, the location is easy reachable by all kinds of public and private transport, which makes it great selection for regeneration. Due to the current status of the building – “The Old Baths of Bankya”, the already regenerated pedestrian park, loses of its value. The lack of a focal point in the park is compensated by a small open market, created in the area behind the baths with a structure of an old mechanical clock in the center of the square.

The idea of the regeneration is to renovate the old building of the baths in order to use the natural sources of mineral water, which pass right under the building. Doing so, we will increase the park attractiveness and strengthen its market value. The renovated building will include also new features in order to meet the demands for a SPA center.

The main advantage of the baths’ regeneration is firstly the fact that all the present SPA centers are missing the historical and cultural aspect, presenting modern resting places. Furthermore if the bath is given the status of national historical heritage planned as planned, it will also bring the opportunity to be seen not only as a regular resting point, but also as a forgotten historical part of our society to be rediscovered. The library section adds to the general idea of a place where to rest and enjoy a marvelous architecture.