Monumental Complex | Maria Tzekova

The project has taken part in a competition for the concept design of the monumental complex "Vasil Levski" in Svilengrad, held in March 2014. The sculpture was developed with Emil Mirchev, a professor of sculpture at the National Art Academy. Vasil Levski was a Bulgarian revolutionary and a national hero of Bulgaria. Dubbed the Apostle of Freedom, Levski ideologized and strategized a revolutionary movement to liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. Requirements of the assignment are to design a complex consisting of a museum building and monument of Vasil Levski. With idea the complex can be seen from a distance and in motion, the total height of the sculpture must be greater than 100 meters. The figure of the Apostle must be popular and recognizable, but it is not required to be built along the entire height of the monument. Requires provides universal observation deck at the top of the monument. The land designated for the monumental complex is situated on quite a steep hill along the highway "Maritsa". This way the perception of the monument from distance and in motion is better, but this difficult site access. In the vicinity of plot there is a road overpass over the highway which makes access to plot possible. In the folds of the surrounding hills is designed path with a normal road longitudinal slope which reaches plot for the monument. From the car park visitor sees the building of the museum complex hidden in the curves of the existing terrain. Functional areas are designed in one volume as it is required in competitive job. The entrance to the building is from the east, accessible from the parking via stairs and ramp for the disabled. Next to the entrance room is security of the complex. Left of the entrance area is located information center, wardrobe and stand for the sale of souvenirs. From the vestibule are accessible exposition hall, multimedia room and a bistro. At the bistro terrace is provided with a playground. At the top of the monument, 130m above the level of the museum is located the observation platform with view to surroundings. Access to it is via a passenger shuttle (funicular) that moves along a spiral path. A funicular is a cable railway, in which a cable attached to a vehicle moves it up to platform and down to museum. The shuttle has two stations - upper and lower. It is operated by a motor mounted to the car. Car is permanently attached to a cable from a winch, which runs on an inclined pair of rails. The slope of the track is 20%. The energy that collects shuttle descended down by gravity is accumulated in electrical generator. This way for the next upload of cable car will be required half of its initial energy. On both sides of the sloped track are provided stairs for pedestrian access and evacuation in case of emergency. The structure of the monument is made of raster structure of galvanized steel and resembles a mesh. The face of Levski goes out of the structure and fits harmoniously into it. It merges with the sky and space creating a sense of timelessness. Form, function and design are united, the image is clear, influenced by the simplicity of expression. The project is distanced from the idea of massive monument on a sound basis. After analyzing the personality of the Apostle of Liberty, we came to the idea of creating a strong and remarkable image. Exposed concept presents Vasil Levski as immortal spirit, vortex that grabs you for his cause, and led you to believe in his ideas. The idea of the monument is to recreate the greatest Bulgarian of all time in an eternal and immortal image.