Organizer:

Municipality of Gabrovo, in partnership with the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Centre for Contemporary Art

Location:

Gabrovo, Bulgaria

Deadline:

July 20, 2026

Competition Category:

Architectural Renovation Design, Urban Renewal Design, Cultural Architecture, Public Space Design, Adaptive Reuse, Riverside Spatial Design

Eligibility:

Bulgarian and foreign architects/design entities authorized to practice; Financial: min. €200,000 design turnover over last 3 fiscal years; Experience: completed public building design/reconstruction >2,000㎡ within last 6 years

Entry Fee:

Free (public procurement procedure)

Prizes/Awards:

Top 5 finalists (Phase 1): €20,000 each (total €100,000); Phase 2 winner: design contract up to €1,000,000 (construction documents, interior design, exhibition design, author's supervision); Construction budget: up to €11,261,103

Core Introduction:

Two-stage international competition for the transformation of the former 1970 Textile Technical School in Gabrovo—Christo's hometown—into a Centre for Contemporary Art. The textile connection runs deep with Christo and Jeanne-Claude's art; the building's spacious high-ceilinged workshops are ideal for exhibition halls. The centre will fuse exhibition halls, artist studios, workshops, textile library, bookstore, co-working, residency studios, café, restaurant, and public areas. Co-financed by EU Regional Development Fund.