The Bulgarian Government’s plan to move away from its present location in central Sofia has passed its first hurdle with the selection of Frenchman Dominique Perrault as its chief architect. The mammoth project, which could cost hundreds - even billions - of euro at a time of economic crisis, has failed to seize the public imagination with many people viewing it as an unnecessary extravagance.

The newly proposed so-called Government City will occupy a total area of 26.4ha on Sixth km along Tsarigradsko Chaussee with a gross built up area exceeding 500 000 sq m. Public service and Government administration will be allotted 120 000 sq m of this area. The Government’s declared aim is to transform this part of Sofia into a "secondary city centre revolving around a modern multi-functional government complex".  

"A second international competition will determine the future investor in the proposed Government City," said Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said during the official ceremony that announced Perrault as the winning architect in the project. The Cabinet is expecting to formulate the final details around the contract and grant approval inside two months.  

The Cabinet has allocated 3.2 million leva towards the Government City’s selection process. Six companies had qualified to the final stage. Among the participants were Foster & Partners, Zaha Hadid Limited, Dominique Perrault Architect, Fucas Assochatti and the Bulgarian conglomerate G-3 and the consortium Adais Project. The seven-member jury, consisting of international architects, selected Perrault as the winner. He will now receive one million euro for his trouble.

The remaining five companies have each being awarded 100 000 euro. Reportedly, Bulgarian experts favoured the design by British architect Norman Foster but the international element of the jury pinned their hopes on Perrault’s design instead.

"The final plan for the complex must be ratified in full and submitted by the end of October," said Public Works Minister Assen Gagauzov, as quoted by Dnevnik daily. "Next year, we will be able to select a company to invest in the project," said Stanishev. Meanwhile, Gagauzov estimates that the project will require 10 years to complete.

Stanishev, on the other hand, considers that the project could take less time. "I am convinced that with the good mutual intentions of the Cabinet and the Sofia Municipality, we will be able to accomplish this quicker, although it is clear that the next Cabinet will be entrusted with completing the project," he said.