A brief architectural portfolio-vol.1

Plamen Rusev I PORTFOLIO

The portfolio is a compilation of several projects and realizations. Some of them are academic, made in UACEG, Sofia, as well as professional during my work as an independent architect, part of NP Architects or Center Region Group ltd. in the period 2013-2021.

PRR 00

ZONA B5 type: concept format: student project, fourth year, UACEG Sofia, Bulgaria arch. Plamen Rusev

B5 01

Zone B-5 is designed as an experimental residential structure, which has oversized multi-storey buildings, kindergartens, shopping center, underground parking, etc. The whole function is full of scope and scale without relying on an organic approach.

In this case we have an abandoned space, which is intended for a park with an integrated sports function.

The idea of the project is to develop a multifunctional sports hall, which will be shaped by the already existing parameters of the situation or in other words to be "organic" in this environment.

Selected parameters are: -minimum step on the terrain, which leaves a smaller imprint on the park. The function that cannot fit on one level with a small step is spread over three levels. The structure acquires independence among the tall buildings around -the geometry of the whole volume is determined by the vectors on site: basic approach and orientation to the park, orthogonality of the street network, cutting or opening the volume according to functional significance, focus of the view, etc.

B5 02

-the slope of Gen. Skobelev street is moved as a contact zone between the second level and the stands of the sports hall. ,Q WKLV ZD\ WKHUH LV QR VHJPHQWDWLRQ EXW LQWHUDFWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH LQGLYLGXDO VSDFHV LQ WKH EXLOGLQJ LWVHOI ȺW WKH VDPH WLPH WKH structure makes additional contact with its surroundings

B5 03

LIFT SOPOT location: Sopot, Bulgaria client: private arch. Plamen Rusev as part of NP Architects status: completed awards: “Building of the year“ 2016; “Wienerberger Brick Award” 2018 The complex "Lift Sopot" is located in the town of Sopot, in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains and is one of the leading paragliding destinations in the world.

The concept for the project is based on the integration of new functional volumes with the existing ones, and the goal is the interaction between them. The whole project includes a lift, a swimming pool, a café with panoramic terraces.

The new entertainment complex is added to the existing structure of “Lift Sopot”. The volume of the café starts from the counterweight tower and rotates 90° to the north so it doesn’t hinder the mountain View. The main part of the café is based -1,60m lower than the lift. This results in the formation of the layout of the pool, it opens the space for this new feature and it highlights the function of the chair-lift.

The pure linear solution is broken thanks to the gradual decline in height: the chair-lift`s brim line goes to the higher part of the café. At the same time, this higher part of the café modifies and emphasizes the main volume.

The changing rooms are located at the northern part of the complex. They complete the structure scale by using the already set parameters. A Physical barrier is built in the space between the café and the changing rooms. This wall accentuates the flow of the customers of the lift and prevents the visual connection to the pool, giving privacy to the visitors.

LS 01

LS 02

The site of the pool corresponds to the scale of the complex and allows it to "breathe". The flat roofs of the café and the brim of “Lift Sopot” are usable and turn into panoramic terraces with a 360-degree view which gives a complete picture of the dynamics of the complex.

The two ramps located at the south part serve as the main access to the pool and café.

The buildings present simple volumes that meet the context of the environment and the requirements of the new feature and its function.

The exterior and interior installations are visible. The main finishing materials are natural-oiled wood, grey stone and exposed concrete and bricks.The railings are made of hot-dip galvanized steel profiles. This completes idea of processed industrial vision.

LS 03

BENKOVSKI HOUSE client: private location : vil. Benkovski, near Plovdiv, Bulgaria type: single-family house status: ongoing construction area: 144 m² arch. Plamen Rusev

The house is designed for a colleague-MEP engineer. It is located near the city of Plovdiv, on a plot on the outskirts of the village of Benkovski. The volume is determined by the characteristics of the plot and the needs of the client.

1. we accept the cubic volume of a typical North-South house with a gable roof 2. the function develops in the longitudinal direction 3. the volume is cut in the South direction, in the form of a veranda and is supplemented in the North-West direction as a shared space with a fireplace 4. the second level is utilized, under-roof space 5. the two levels are connected by a staircase at the entrance hall and a small gallery above the shared space of the fireplace

BENK 01

The volume of the shared space is made of stone and levitates above the facade.

In the East-West direction the house is visually "passable".

The porch unites the yard and the house in a common space.

The entrance is hidden in a "mini" porch to the west.

BENK 02

BENK 03

PULPIT ROCK status: concept format: competition arch. Plamen Rusev, NP Architects award: “ARCHINOVA” 2019 The task of the competition is to develop a contemporary/temporary church- located in one of the most famous places in Norway - Preikestolen.

The idea of the project is to integrate a simple function in the natural environment, without any contradiction between the two.

PR 01

The space needed for a liturgy with a certain number of visitors is located directly on the rock.

What is "taken" from the rock is duplicated on the roof of the church in the form of a visual platform.

The volume of the building also develops vertically in the form of a bell tower and a pulpit as a wink to the name of the rock-preikestolen (from Norwegian).

PR 02

The construction is a combination of scaffold mesh and massives of cross-laminated timber panels.

They take on both a functional meaning - a platform, a bell tower, a service function, and a constructive role as solid cores in the spatial network of light elements.

A structure can't compare with a natural scene in this case.

We can just add a view platform and dismantle the scaffolding when necessary.

PR 03

GELATO & LATTE status: completed format: process, design locations: Sofia: ESTE, San Stefano Plaza, Sopharma Towers, Quartal Food Park; Rozino: @Rozino Organic Farm; Sopot: @Lift, Sopot arch. Plamen Rusev award: “Wienerberger brick award” 2019

G&L 01

“Gelato & Latte” is a manufacturer of gelato / artisanal ice cream and dairy products, which since its inception has managed to offer customers quality, which has become a benchmark in this field.

Perfectionism is an integral part of production, and production needs an appropriate environment in which the final product can reach the customers.

After many years of joint work, together we managed to realize five gelato stores and a diary, located in different parts of Bulgaria.

Key stones for the work of gelato stores are the vision as a trademark and the opportunity for customers to peek into the production or the so-called Gelato Lab. Functional zoning is standard and complies with all requirements: customer service, coffee area, storage area, hygienic room and production area.

The presence of a glass barrier between service and production allows visitors to look at the production at the moment to be sure of the quality of the product, as well as to feel the atmosphere of this specific process.

Customers need to feel comfortable, respectively, the materials and elements in the interior are chosen very carefully to find the right balance between the feeling of production and comfort. On the one hand we have reinforced concrete and visible installations, together with stainless steel equipment, and on the other OSB countertops with epoxy resin coating, furniture and decorations from proven manufacturers.

In this case, the main role is played by surface treatment or rather the idea of materials, installations and other elements of building to bring a sense of "arrangement" in the interior.

G&L “Gelato & Latte” ESTE

02

“Gelato & Latte” ESTE

“Gelato & Latte” ESTE

G&L 03

“Gelato & Latte” Quartal Food Park

The challenge is to develop the already established vision in the form of an approach to the work process in the constraints of the new locations, so as to preserve the authenticity and recognizability of the brand as such.

“Gelato & Latte” Sopharma Towers

G&L 04

REZHANTSY HOUSE client: private location: Rezhantsy 2380, near Pernik, Bulgaria type: single-family house, retreat house status : ongoing construction building area: 161 m² arch. Plamen Rusev

REJ 01

The project is at the level of technical design, according to the assignment of the Investor for an all-wooden building with certain requirements for privacy in a country villa. It is located on the outskirts of the village of Rezhantsi, near the town of Pernik on a relatively flat terrain.

The volume is determined by the characteristics of the plot and the needs of the client.

1. we accept the cubic volume of a one-storey, wide-area house, developed on one level 2. the house function develops around the living room and porch, which are open to the yard and are treated as a whole 3. on the side of the road, the volume is "cut" to place an indoor garden that provides both light and additional yard space 4. two of the bedrooms have direct access to the veranda, one of the bedrooms has access to the inner garden 5. the entrance of the house is hidden in a "cut" part of the volume in the North-West direction 6. in the living room between the roof trusses is "hung" empore with access through a folding ladder

REJ 02

The construction of the house is a combination of a wooden skeleton, whose components are solid elements and a secondary-light frame structure, built of a typed main wooden profile 140 / 50mm. In this way the following is achieved: 1. reliable wooden construction - the solid skeleton provides load-bearing capacity, as well as gives an overall vision of the spaces 2. the light frame structure can be prefabricated which gives the opportunity for a fast and direct montage to the wooden skeleton 3. the achieved thermal insulation is 290mm, which includes the cross section of panels + exterior and interior cladding

REJ 03

The vision of the house is as clean as possible. The "hidden" garden is designed as part of the vertical exterior cladding. In this way the volume acquires a certain height and volume in contrast to the one-storey function

REJ 04