ABSTRACT
This paper presents two important examples of reinforced concrete construction from the 1970s and 1980s in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. These are large-scale, public buildings and examples of in-situ concrete construction with some precast concrete elements. This paper is the first to argue that the buildings represent significant local accomplishments in concrete construction, a conclusion based on an examination of the structural and architectural use of concrete in each building. The paper draws on unpublished archival documentation and personal onsite investigations as well as the discussions in architectural textbooks and magazines of common building practices at the time. This study also compares the two buildings, which were built at the same time and had similar design and construction requirements. Finally, the paper considers if the use of concrete was approached differently in the two buildings and the ‘concrete’ heritage value of each building.
