A contest for the architectural design of the first skyscraper in Bulgaria, to be built in Bourgas, is currently under way. The contest for the planned 154m-high building is organised by the investor in the project and owner of the land plot, Vaklin Stoinovski, and the other main investor, the Bulgarian American Credit Bank.

Bulgarian construction company Ontime Construction and Logistics, owned by Stoinovski, holds 85 per cent of the property, the remainder belonging to the Bulgarian-American Credit Bank, guarantor of the project. The net value of the 45-storey building is estimated at 1400 euro a sq m. Seven architectural offices will take part in the contest for the building, which will be erected in the Sea Garden of Bourgas.

Construction costs are estimated at 50 million euro. Part of the 45-storey building will be used as an international hotel chain, and premises will be granted to artists for private studios and galleries. The complex will include restaurants and coffee shops. One of the floors is intended for an exhibition hall, another for a museum. Swimming pools, gyms and spa facilities have also been envisaged.

The deadline for submitting the draft projects for the functions and design for the building was June 15. After the submission deadline, the next step will be an exhibition of the projects in the Bourgas Free University followed by a public discussion.

Bourgas citizens will be able to vote on the project by submitting survey forms from June 17-21. The project chosen by the public will be given an award. A jury formed by specialists including economists, designers, engineers and architects having professional experience in the construction of skyscrapers will select their winner in the contest.

The idea for building a skyscraper in Bourgas was announced at the end of last year when the local businessman Stoinovski, who has stakes in restaurant operators and trading companies in Bulgaria, publicly declared his idea to build the first skyscraper in the country. The skyscraper will be built on the location of the popular tavern Vodenitsata (The Mill), which is Stoinovski's property.

His idea, however, was not welcomed by everyone. On April 20 the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria (CAB) opposed the construction of the skyscraper in an open letter to the Bulgarian-language media.

"The 154m skyscraper, the first one in the country, will be located in one of the most beautiful places in Bourgas, and the lack of car parks and adequate infrastructure combined with a considerably increased flow of visitors will do irreparable damage to the area," the CAB letter said.

Stoinovski's idea did not meet the public support either. The project has triggered protests among some of the residents of Bourgas, who fear that the building would damage the surrounding seaside park. Over 5000 citizens have signed a petition opposing the project, according to reports in the local press. One of the concerns of the public is that the land plot on which the skyscraper is to be built is too small and people fear that Stoinovski would eventually decide to expand the construction further into the Sea Garden.

Bourgas municipality said that the land for the skyscraper, which will have the form of a needle, was privately owned, but the municipality would not let any expansion on municipality-owned land. Construction on the project started a month ago when the famous Efendieva Kushta building was partly demolished. According to the plan, the foundations of the house would be incorporated in the foundations of the skyscraper, which is expected to be finished in the following two or three years.