The Student Hotel

An Impulse for the Activation of the Public Spaces of Veliko Tarnovo





Alexandra Petrova

Betreuung:
Ass.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Armin Stocker
Institut für Grundlagen der Konstruktion und des Entwerfens
2020
Universitätsbibliothek

This project deals with Nikola Nikolov’s brutalist “Interhotel” which is located in the Bulgarian city Veliko Tarnovo. Once a luxury hotel known for its outstanding service and renowned guests, the structure now lies in architectural decay, radiating the oppressive spirit of the Sovjet past. Even though the hotel features a central location and strong architectural qualities, for many, the building has become an eyesore on the cityscape. This project analyzes how the perception of the building has changed over time and how it has developed from a place of vivid exchange to a place separated from the rest of the urban fabric. The project suggests that by establishing new spatial links to green and revitalized spaces in the city, realized through pedestrian bridges, the urban core of Veliko Tarnovo could be transformed into a well-connected, pulsating public space.