Plovdiv square. Exposing heritage of a lost public space

Thousands of years of history,heritage dating back to Antiquity,architectonic fragments of memory expressing significant cultural and historic periods characterize the image of the city of Plovdiv. Ancient Roman orthogonal grid lies underneath the contemporary city level, unable to unveil its full potential. The place where most of the historical layers intersect is the Central Square-the largest open public space of the city. Archaeology underneath reveals that throught the years Plovdiv has been faithful to its original urban ogranization.The Agora/ Forum of the ancient city lays right under the contemporary square,coinciding completely, never changing its function with the years. Being commercial,cultural and functional center of all the surrounding settlements, the square served as the biggest collective space for public meetings, celebrations, tradings and events.Keeping its function, but loosing its vitality and public engagement, the square has transformed currently into a public void.A collective space of extremely different cultures, history and architecture - not able to function as one whole. Lack of balance between different scattered fragments led to a total disillusion of the place. Landmarks of different historical layers - Greek and Roman city, Liberalization, Communism and the 19th century Green lung enclose the square, not able to coexist together. No coherence of architectural fragment, inadequate public facilities have transformed the square into a transition space. Unable to display the richness of its identity and heritage, and provide a comfortable conditions for public life, people tend to avoid staying within. The project strives to rediscover the primal organization of the past, refl ecting its memory within the modern city. Finding balance between historical periods through integration of culture, history and tradition into a harmonious coexistence of landmarks working in a uniform organic body. Revitalization of the square by encouraging social life, keeping identity of the place by integrating it into a contemporary everyday life of the community. A conservation project on the post offi ce keeping its symbolic elements, will envision contemporary sustainable measures to preserve the building’s appearance, prolong its life-cycle and implementing new functionality to satisfy the vivid public life of the square.