A Space for Contemporary Art and Culture – Park Zone 3 Competition
The Municipality of Burgas in collaboration with the Burgas 2032 Foundation has opened up an international architecture competition for Park Zone 3, a project located in the middle of Burgas, Bulgaria. The main objective is to convert the central so-called “hole” of the city into a lively area of art, culture and community.
The intention of the project is to build a new public area that merges park, cultural facilities and city life. The architects are called to envision a platform for interaction, communication and social integration through the means of architecture, landscape and cultural programming.
Competition Details
The competition is for conceiving and built-project proposals that meet the main requirement of the competition which is the central site in Burgas. It is open to all architects and multidisciplinary teams worldwide with no financial or nationality restrictions. There are no entry fees.
The proposals should illustrate zones, areas and buildings in a green park setting that are in tune with the spirit of Burgas and are flexible, inclusive places that help to develop the cultural and social aspects of the city centre. The winner may be offered a further opportunity to develop a technical investment project following their selection.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Launch of Competition | 25 September 2025 |
| Deadline for Questions | 28 December 2025 |
| Registration Deadline | 2 January 2026 |
| Submission Deadline | 7 January 2026 |
| Jury Review | 10 January – 10 February 2026 |
| Results Announcement | 16 February 2026 |
Entry Fees
| Stage | Fee |
|---|---|
| All Entries | Free |
Awards
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| First Prize | € 50 000 |
| Second Prize | € 30 000 |
| Third Prize | € 15 000 |
| Honourable Mentions (2) | € 7 500 each |
Architectural Analysis
The competition’s design logic is based on the idea of making the central urban void a lively cultural and green space. The concept of inclusiveness and flexibility through architecture and landscape is to create areas where art, nature and public life can interact.
Choice of materials, structural design, movement of people, and public activities will all play an important role. The designers will have to take the particularities of the site in Burgas into consideration when deciding about the size, the connection to the city, and the identity, but at the same time, they should make it easy for cultural expression and community usage to happen.
Importance of the Competition
The competition introduces the idea of ‘the city renewed by the power of culture, nature and inclusion’, not the demolition of buildings; thus, the artists and designers intervene in the city only when necessary. It changes the perception of downtown areas from the places where the city has nothing left to offer to the ones of creativity and community.
The competition arrives at the right time if we consider the growing importance of public space, cultural infrastructure, and inclusive design. It promotes a new kind of architectural thinking that combines landscape, culture, and urban design in one concept. The competition provides an excellent platform for the designers to determine the city’s center’s future.
✦ ArchUp Competition Review
The A Space for Contemporary Art and Culture – Park Zone 3 contest, promoted by the Municipality of Burgas and the Burgas 2032 Foundation, is a new central urban area inviting global architects and multidisciplinary teams to transform it into a green and cultural hub. It is completely open and free to enter and offers a €50,000 first prize, with submissions closing on January 7, 2026. The awarding and organizing are thus municipal and the prize scale is indicative of both credibility and realistic implementation potential. The competition’s outline has combined landscape, architecture, and cultural programming to great effect, though the details of the jury are still sketchy. All in all, it is a credible, socially inclined call that fosters urban renewal through inclusive and community-oriented design.
Conclusion
The A Space for Contemporary Art and Culture – Park Zone 3 competition offers the chance for architects and multidisciplinary teams to rethink an urban center in Bulgaria, and at the same time, to create a landmark for culture and public life. It is asking for proposals that are bold but contextual, ambitious but also open to the community.
Participants are invited to produce work with deep concepts, that are socially responsive, and demonstrate place respect. The competition turns architecture into a cultural urban transformation catalyst.
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