Squareone Atelier’s winning proposal for a redesign by Elin Pelin
Squareone Atelier’s winning proposal for the Elin Pelin International Urban Design Competition reshapes the city center as a continuous urban landscape. Rather than introducing a single architectural object, the project creates a spatial system shaped by movement, climate and daily use.
The existing center in Elin Pelin, Bulgariait includes a central square, key public buildings and a defined urban core. The proposal addresses its current status as a space primarily used for transit by reorganizing it into a series of interconnected urban zones. These zones enhance relationships between landmarks while supporting a wider range of activities.
At the center of the plan is an urban spine for pedestrians. This step-free surface organizes traffic and accommodates gatherings, events and seasonal use. Along this axis, the landscape expands into a sequence of social edges and defined areas, including shaded seating, informal courts, play areas, market zones and quieter gardens. These elements structure the public realm as an active and distributed system rather than an open, undefined surface.
central square yield | all images courtesy of Squareone Atelier
Terrazzo Surfaces and Reclaimed Pavers are in the Public Domain
Squareone Studio The hardware strategy is based on reuse and continuity. The existing paving is chipped and recast into terrazzo surfaces and concrete seating elements, retaining natural traces of the original site. Terracotta tones derived from the local context are reintroduced through the paving details, enhancing visual coherence throughout the intervention.
A dry creek forms a continuous linear feature across the site. Constructed from reused pavements, it acts as stormwater infrastructure while also supporting wayfinding and spatial orientation. Its geometry introduces variations in ground level, contributing to both environmental performance and spatial identity. Textual elements are incorporated into the paving, incorporating quotes from Elin Pelin and Hristo Botev. These inscriptions incorporate cultural references into the everyday experience of space.
The proposal is seen as an adaptable framework rather than a fixed composition. Through gradual interventions and durable materials, the design supports long-term use while allowing the center to evolve in response to changing employment patterns.
dry creek performance
playground performance
render a social court
