Bar "Olgin"
| Condition | Following the overthrow of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1989, Bar “Olgin”, much like all other enterprises, became privatized. The new ownership attempted to update the bar’s ambiance by turning it into a chalga club (Bulgarian pop-folk music) and saw a brief moment of success over the following years. However, unable to make a profit amidst the turbulent economy of the 1990s, the ownership was passed on a couple more times until it ultimately became abandoned by the end of the 2000s. From then on, the building turned into a gathering hub for the homeless and drug addicts who would go on to trash the space over the course of the following years. In 2013, local hooligans set a fire inside the bar (another fire took place in 2019). Further damage ensued until a moment came when, seemingly, there was hope for the future of the bar-restaurant. In 2015, the city’s mayor met with the building’s owners to discuss renovations. However, nothing came from that meeting and no further news about the building surfaced. Lastly, in 2020, the entrances to the building were closed off with newly-installed metallic window and door frames. The future of Bar “Olgin” remains uncertain. Special thanks to Stefan Spassov |
| Architects | Petko Popov |
| Construction Date | 2023 |
Completed in 1985 (construction 1984-1985), Bar “Holguin” (or as it’s said in Bulgarian, “Bar Olgin”) holds the name of the Cuban city Holguin. It was managed under Balkantourist (the oldest tourist operator company in Bulgaria) and quickly became one of the city’s most popular venues. Weddings, anniversaries, and casual festivities were held here. The concrete, wood, and glass structure was a late example of mature socialist-modernist architecture in Bulgaria. The highlight of the building being its dome, inspired by Oscar Niemeyer’s Cathedral of Brasilia (1970); an infinite loop of concrete curves extending up towards the sky. The artistic synthesis of the building was owed to interior murals by the Pernik artist, Filip Sedefchev (destroyed).