In the context of contemporary urban transformation, the issue of preserving and adapting cultural heritage within an active and socially responsible environment is becoming increasingly relevant. Architectural monuments, as carriers of historical memory and identity, are often left isolated from contemporary life or fall into states of physical and social degradation. For this reason, the approach to their revitalization must be dual in nature - simultaneously oriented toward the conservation of their authentic material substance and their reintegration into the modern urban fabric.
Such is the case of the House of Ivan Drasov, located on one of the oldest and most significant streets in Varna - Preslav Street. Constructed at the end of the nineteenth century, the building embodies historical memory and bears witness to a period when the street functioned as a key space for the city’s commercial and social life.
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Preslav Street – From Commercial Artery to Cultural Axis
From the early stages of Varna’s conscious urban planning, Preslav Street acquired strategic importance. As the widest street, the first to be paved, and one of the busiest commercial routes, it became a natural link between the city’s economic life and the administrative center around Musala Square. Shops and workshops shaped its everyday atmosphere - dynamic, vibrant, and full of activity.
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Situated almost entirely within the boundaries of the archaeological reserve Odessos - Varna, the street continues to retain a high concentration of buildings designated as cultural heritage. Historical maps clearly demonstrate its long-standing significance as an urban axis structuring the character of the central city area.
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Nevertheless, contemporary interventions have left their mark: a significant portion of the original paving has been replaced with asphalt; vehicular traffic has displaced pedestrian activity; and advertising elements, along with uncoordinated alterations to building façades, disrupt the visual coherence of the street. This environment poses challenges to the perception of the street as a cultural value.
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The House of Ivan Drasov – A Late Nineteenth-Century Heritage Asset
Following the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, Ivan Drasov - public figure, revolutionary, and educator, actively engaged in the construction of the modern Bulgarian state - settled in Varna. Born in Lovech in 1848, Drasov belonged to the generation of Bulgarian National Revival figures who combined revolutionary activity with educational and organizational work. He participated in the national liberation movement and maintained close connections with key figures of the period, including Hristo Botev.
After the Liberation, Drasov became actively involved in the administrative and public life of Bulgaria. Owing to his experience and authority, he held various governmental positions, including that of District Governor of Varna. His appointment to the city was not incidental - by the late nineteenth century, Varna had established itself as a strategic Black Sea center of growing economic and political importance. The presence of individuals experienced in state governance contributed to the institutional consolidation and modernization of local administration.
It was within this dynamic urban context that, around 1890, the house of Ivan Drasov was constructed. The building represents a characteristic example of late nineteenth-century urban architecture, combining residential and commercial functions - a model reflecting the active interweaving of private and public life in the developing urban environment. Its architectural expression embodies both representational qualities and practicality, typical of Varna’s building practices during a period of intensive modernization, when the city was gradually shaping its European identity.
Over the decades, the building has accommodated a succession of public functions, reflecting the evolving social needs of the city:
● From its initial construction, the building was designed with a mixed-use function - the ground floor allocated to commercial activities, while the upper floors were organized as residential spaces. This approach is characteristic of late nineteenth-century urban houses and reflects the intention to integrate economic activity and habitation within a single property. The commercial ground floor ensured direct interaction with the street environment, activating the façade frontage along Preslav Street and positioning the building as an active participant in the area’s economic life. At the same time, the residential levels above provided privacy and functional autonomy, clearly distinguishing between public and private domains. This vertical functional hierarchy is indicative of the urban dwelling model of the period and of the integration of the home within the dynamic social and commercial structure of the city.
● Between 1911 and 1946, the building housed the private commercial school of Leri Antonova. This extended period marked a lasting transformation in its character - from a residential-commercial structure into an established educational environment. The placement of an educational institution in this building attests to its favorable spatial qualities - clear layout organization, sufficient natural lighting, and the capacity to accommodate teaching spaces. For more than three decades, it functioned as a setting for vocational education, preparing young people for careers in commerce and trade - key sectors for the development of Varna.
● Between 1959 and 1970, the building functioned as the “Bratya Miladinovi” auxiliary school for children with special educational needs. This phase represents a particularly significant moment in its history, reinforcing its social role in a more explicit form.
The adaptation of the building to the requirements of a specialized educational institution necessitated the organization of spaces suited to diverse learning approaches, individualized support, and increased care for children. In this way, the architectural environment once again demonstrated its adaptability and capacity to respond to specific societal needs. Its use as an auxiliary school endowed the building with a profound social dimension, transforming it into a place of support, integration, and development - where education extended beyond knowledge acquisition to the cultivation of confidence and social skills.
● Following the relocation of the school, around 1975, the ground floor regained its commercial function, accommodating the “1001 Goods” retail store. This phase marked a return to the building’s original concept, in which the ground level was conceived as an active commercial zone directly connected to the street environment.
● Between approximately 2012 and 2019, the ground floor once again functioned as a commercial space - this time as a sports goods store.
● Since 2019, the building has remained completely unoccupied. The absence of function has led to a gradual deterioration of its physical condition - a process of accelerated decay typical of buildings with interrupted use. The disruption of its long-standing public role not only endangers its material integrity but also results in the loss of its active presence within the urban environment.
This spectrum of functions demonstrates that the house has never been merely a dwelling - it has consistently operated as an active urban node, responding to the needs of diverse social groups.
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Current Condition and Heritage Value of the Building
At present, the House of Ivan Drasov is in a condition typical of many valuable yet abandoned buildings in the historic center of Varna. An analysis of the façades and the identified pathologies indicates significant issues resulting from prolonged use and exposure to atmospheric conditions, including severely deteriorated plaster, exposed brick masonry, biological degradation, and missing decorative elements. While such problems are not uncommon, they require timely intervention in order to preserve the authentic material fabric and the original architectural character.
A particularly serious disruption is observed in the altered character of the ground floor. Instead of the original rhythm of window openings and entrances, large display windows have been introduced, fragmenting the historic composition of the façade. These contemporary interventions not only disrupt the façade rhythm but also act as strong visual dissonances - “visual scars” within
an otherwise valuable historic structure. This further weakens the architectural legibility of the building and hinders its perception as a cultural asset.
Despite its compromised condition, the primary volume of the building remains intact, while the characteristic proportions and details of the upper levels still retain a high degree of authenticity. It is precisely this that defines the building as a significant element of the architectural memory of Preslav Street.
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Identity and Memory in the Urban Environment
The House of Ivan Drasov and Preslav Street share a common history - a history of a thriving commercial area, of social transformations, and of successive layers of time accumulating upon one another. Their role today is no less significant: through them, the cultural strata of the city are interpreted, narratives that might otherwise be lost are preserved, and a foundation is established for contemporary heritage policies.
The preservation of such ensembles is not an act of restoration “directed toward the past,” but rather an investment in the future. It sustains the connection between generations, provides a framework for the development of urban identity, and creates the conditions for a high-quality urban environment.
Conclusion
The House of Ivan Drasov and Preslav Street represent significant elements within the cultural topography of Varna. Their historical role, architectural value, and potential for integration into the contemporary urban context underline the necessity of a conscious and professional approach to cultural heritage.
Their preservation is essential not only for understanding the past, but also for shaping a sustainable, identity-driven, and socially engaged urban environment.
Arch. Desislava Georgieva
Diploma Thesis, 2025 with supervisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arch. Zhechka Ilieva
Varna Free University “Chernorizets Hrabar”
Sources:
"Ivan Drasov in the Bulgarian National Revolutionary Movement (1871–1877)", documentary collection, Slavena Publishing House, Varna, 2007, compilers: Dora Tomova, Zdravka Noneva, Todor Abadzhiev, Maria Penkova
"Varna, architectural monuments, history, personalities", author Georgi Katsarski, MS Publishing House, 2016
"The architecture of the city of Varna from the period of capitalism", author arch. Mariana Georgieva - Vezneva, "Study" department at the National Institute of Architecture and Design
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