Adata Wave

New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria

Project idea

Adata Wave will be a cultural centre in Plovdiv, one of the most attractive tourist sights in Bulgaria. It has been designed to correspond to the local authorities’ ambition to find a new home for the city opera.The site for the project will be located on the biggest island along the Maritsa river. The design strategies have been inspired by the specific environment of the place.Conceptually representing a massive organic structure supported by the surrounding river, the building is a metaphor of a wave. The project attempts to bring together the aesthetic qualities and the great potential of the existing natural factors.

Project description

The different internal sections - the opera, the theatre and the conference hall - have been manifested in the interior; each has its own entrance and can operate individually.Mega corridors integrating ramps, stairs and elevators connect the facilities. The communal zones will have open libraries, interior gardens, exhibition areas, cafeterias, bars and meeting rooms, among others.

Technical information

Two systems will respond to the meteorological and seismic conditions of the site. A space frame with single-movement joints allows the construction of a free-form structure. Self-supporting cladding panels are to be used for the envelope. The design of Interactive Kirigami Panels and the slits in the glazing panels will ensure the natural ventilation of the structure. The construction itself, along with the interactive systems, will allow sufficient energy and will guarantee the environmentally-friendly nature of the entire building.