The Department of Architecture and Urban Studies is one of the three Faculty of Architecture Departments at Varna Free University. The resolution to commence operation and establish the speciality of Architecture was made at Academic Council’s official sitting of 27 November 1998, on the initiative of the Varna Branch of the Union of Bulgarian Architects of 12 November 1998.
Instruction in the speciality of Architecture commenced in the 2002/2003 academic year with the admission of 39 students.
In July 2006, the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency gave green light to the project for establishment of the speciality of Architecture as a regulated professional speciality, whereas in November 2007 the speciality received curriculum accreditation with regard to the acquisition of a PhD Academic and Research Degree in the following specialities: 02.17.05, Architecture of Buildings, Facilities and Components, and 02.17.09, Territorial, Landscape and Town Planning.
The Department is currently employing 5 professors, 4 associate professors, 5 lecturers and 4 assistant lecturers.
The advancement of the speciality of Architecture is achieved in compliance with VFU’s academic mission and our quick adaptation to changes in the labour market, where the need for highly-qualified, dependable and competitive employees is the best acknowledgement for our university in the conditions of transition towards market relations as a part of the ever-changing global market. This makes Architecture one of VFU’s high-priority specialities.
The speciality of Architecture has been academically integrated with the rest of the specialities belonging to the Faculty of Architecture – Construction of Buildings and Facilities and Fire and Emergency Protection. In order to meet the needs of the teaching process, all three specialties use the same facilities, carrying out common instruction in fundamental disciplines, based on common research and expert teams. Thanks to this, we are able to provide information and logical cohesion for our educational product.
Instruction in general and management disciplines is delivered by tutors from the other two faculties.
The newly-established speciality of Architecture fills a critical void in VFU’s academic system, and along with the other three specialities (Construction of Buildings and Facilities, Legal Expert, Engineering, and Fire and Emergency Protection) shapes the mutually complementing and highly-efficient professional field of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy.
VFU’s speciality of Architecture has been granted national accreditation and notification under European Parliament Directive 2005/36/EC, which guarantees the recognition of all Architecture diplomas issued by Chernorizets Hrabar Free University of Varna throughout the EU.
The speciality of Architecture enjoys great interest from applicants, mainly evinced by young people from Northeast and Southeast Bulgaria. However, there are applicants from Central and Western Bulgaria as well. The most outstanding among them are graduates from foreign language and mathematics schools, and vocational schools of construction and architecture. A significant part of our current students are already doing a design and construction job at design offices and companies.
Our first architecture class graduated in 2008.
Regular Lecturer |
University e-mail |
Office |
Kovachev, Atanas Dimitrov, Acad., Prof., Sc.D., M. Arch. | atanas.kovachev@vfu.bg | А-106 |
Vacheva, Krasimira Zaharieva, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., M. Arch. | vacheva@vfu.bg | А-209 |
Slaev, Aleksandar Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., M. Arch. | slaev@vfu.bg | А-117 |
Ninov, Nikolay Dobriyanov, Assoc. Prof. | ninov@vfu.bg | Atelie-С |
Radoeva, Antoaneta Dimitrova, Assoc. Prof. | antoaneta.radoeva@vfu.bg | А-124 |
Raynovska, Radost Stamenova, Ph.D., M. Arch. | radost.raynovska@vfu.bg | А-210 |
Zhekova, Tsveta Angelova, Ph.D., M. Arch. | tsveta.zhekova@vfu.bg | А-243 |
Tanov, Mladen Chavdarov, Assist. Prof., Ph.D., M. Arch., M. Ls. Arch., M. Env. Eng. | mladen.tanov@vfu.bg | А-106 |
Hristova, Desislava Angelova, Assist. Prof., M. Arch. | desislava.hristova@vfu.bg hristova@vfu.bg |
А-208 |
Ilieva, Jetchka Velikova, Assist. Prof., M. Arch. | jetchka.ilieva@vfu.bg | А-209 |
Nikolov, Petar Nikolaev, Assist. Prof., M. Arch. | peter.nikolov@vfu.bg | А-106 |
Nikolova, Asya Marinova, Assist. Prof., M. Arch. | asya.nikolova@vfu.bg | А-208 |
Topchiev, Hristo Dimitrov, M. Arch. | А-106 | |
Osmanova, Filiz Hasanova, M. Arch. | А-243 | |
Associate Lecturer | University e-mail | Office |
Krastev, Todor, Prof., Sc.D., M. Arch. | ||
Koeva, Margarita, Prof., Sc.D., M. Arch. | ||
Nikiforov, Ivan, Prof., Sc.D., M. Arch. | ||
Nikiforova Rositsa, Prof., Ph.D., M. Arch. | ||
Popova, Nikolina , Prof., Ph.D. | ||
Konakchiev, Doncho, Prof., Ph.D. | ||
Ivanov, Vladimir, Prof. | ||
Andreychin, Dimitar, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., M. Arch. | ||
Savov, Rosen, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., M. Arch. | ||
Popov, Ivan, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D., M. Eng. | ||
Milev, Yanko, Assoc. Prof. | ||
Genchev, Yancho, Assoc. Prof. | ||
Georgiev, Petko, Ph.D. | ||
Petrov, Plamen, Ph.D., M. Arch. | А-117 | |
Kirova, Donika, Ph.D., M. Arch. | А-124 | |
Radilova, Ivelina, Ph.D., M. Ls. Arch. | ||
Frangova, Krasimira, Ph.D. | ||
Lombardini, Nora, Ph.D., M. Arch. | ||
Chizoniti, Domenico, Ph.D., M. Arch. | ||
Mihaylov, Todor, Ph.D., M. Arch | ||
Todorova, Albena, Ph.D., M. Arch | ||
Kitanov, Kitan, Ph.D. | ||
Lyutskanova, Lilia, M. Arch | lutzkanova@vfu.bg | А-208 |
Velchev, Kalin, M. Arch | ||
Velchev, Marin, M. Arch | ||
Kolev, Vladimir, M. Arch. | ||
Yosifov, Dragomir, M. Arch. | ||
Yavor Bankov, M. Arch. | ||
Buzev, Viktor, M. Arch. | ||
Bahchevan, Mariyana, Adv. | ||
Asanov, Ibrim, M. Arch. | ||
Velichkov, Stanimir, M. Arch. | ||
Rachev, Vladimir, M. Arch. | ||
Ivanov, Plamen | ||
Radkov, Stefan | ||
Traychev, Dimitar |
Bachelor’s Academic Degree:
Architectural Environment Design
The speciality is the first in Bulgaria of its type, issuing bachelor’s diplomas for the qualification of Architect and Designer.
Upon graduation, holders of an Architect and Designer qualification will be competent in providing complex design solutions in the following three fields of architecture and their respective subfields: exterior environment, interior environment and event-environment design. The course inquires into exterior spatial design (design for squares, streets, gardens and recreation spaces), interior design (public, residential and industrial design), and event-and-environment design (design for exhibitions, fairs, public festivities, festivals and other cultural and sports events).
The curriculum is based on the traditions of architectural and creative education, augmented by specific design approaches based on the interdependence between the elements used in environment design. BA graduates can embark on a career at design, architectural and advertising bureaus, housing companies, and state and local administration offices, as well as in the furniture producing industry.
A BA in Architectural Environment Design can pursue further studies through a two-year MA programme with regard to acquiring a MA Architecture diploma.
Furthermore, instruction in Architecture and Architectural Environment Design features guest professors from IUAV (Venice) and MARCHI (Moscow) - universities partnering with Varna Free University under bilateral cooperation agreements.
The speciality of Architecture has been granted national accreditation and is currently in the final phase of being granted notification under Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament, which would give our Architecture diplomas full recognition everywhere in the EU.
Territorial and Landscape Planning
Modern living environment management sees issues in comprehensive spatial planning, open space and natural environment being ever more topical. The newly-established speciality of Territorial and Landscape Planning at Varna Free University meets the ever-increasing demand for specialists who would actively participate in policies on natural environment safety, ecology, regional development, urban governance, urban environment quality, open space design and construction (design for landscape, country and urban parks, streets, squares). These activities have a constantly growing significance on both the European and global level, and are therefore ever more important to European integration processes, working under European programmes, and the implementation of European funds, municipal policies and different forms of public-private partnership.
Graduates from the speciality will have the chance to embark on a career as a designer in the field of architectural, urban and regional planning and design, practising at municipal, regional and state institutions, and providing expert, consulting and other services.
Master of Arts Academic Degree:
Architecture
Architecture is a state-regulated speciality and instruction in it is aimed at training students as highly-qualified specialists with a solid practical and theoretical grounding. All architecture graduates can start a career in urban planning, design and construction of residential, public and industrial buildings, resort buildings, and adaptation of architectural monuments, interior and design. Recent graduates can start a job at design bureaus, construction companies, municipal, regional and central administration offices, construction supervision institutions, as well as in architectural and historical heritage conservation, etc. Instruction is carried out in compliance with progressive international trends and the national requirements for the speciality. Also, we enjoy student and lecturer exchange with a number of foreign universities.
The course of study extends over a period of 5 years. In Semester 10, students are given the chance to opt for one of five up-to-date further study programmes: Urbanism, Architecture Management, Architectural Heritage Conservation, Architecture of Tourism and Leisure, and Architecture of Residential, Industrial and Public Buildings and Complexes.
PhD Academic Degree:
The Department maintains cooperation with: