Culture complex “Metalik”

An old abandoned factory in the center of a contemporary town. A lifeless monument of former great industrial past, now turns into a living cultural center of a small town. One place that combines learning and entertainment.

During XX century Pernik is prosperous industrial town in Bulgaria. It was the energy heart of the country with its coal mines. Nowadays we watch a steady reduction of its industrial capacity, the factories and plants are closed or working at their minimum. Pernik citizens are mostly working in the nearby capital of Bulgaria – Sofia. The town authorities in the last 3 decades aim to get rid of the dead industrial monuments from the past, by destroying them. The old factories and plants now are located in the center zones of the town because of the increase of its population. The government throw them down without giving the buildings a chance to change and take new role in the contemporary life. But I think old factories possess the unique spirit of the former great past. So I consider them very valuable for the image of the town and I tried to show this in my project. I wanted to give an example of how an old abandoned factory can be turned into contemporary culture center. A new living heart at the town center. I think Pernik needs this place, the building is there, just need to transform it and return it to people, a place dedicated to knowledge and entertainment in the very heart of the town.