A FACE LIFT FOR SOFIA RAILWAY STATION

The space around the Central Railway Station in the capital city of Sofia is on the way to become a centre of modern art. Some of the disused premises around the station and in the underpass will soon turn into art studios and artistic work rooms.

The premises of the railway station were built 40 years ago and have never been fully overhauled since then. Thousands of passengers go through the station every day. The first thing visitors of Sofia now see upon arrival is disuse or deteriorated buildings. That is why the young people from the association ‘UnderGara’ (UnderStation) decided to convert them into a place which would meet passengers with smiles, art bazaars, artistic performances and concerts.

Representatives of the association say that the idea is to get together with other organizations working in the filed of arts or are involved in social activities and to work out how to change the place. That is how the project “Relax’ was initiated. Its aim is to transform old and unnecessary objects into interesting and practical ones, which would be used to decorate the space around the station in Sofia.

In support of the idea to renovate the central railway station and turn it into a modern spot, Sofia municipality will assign the management of some of the premises to the association ‘UnderStaion’

The railway station is currently in a process of renovation not only because of the envisaged contemporary art centre, but because of the recently opened underground line and the repair works of the station building itself. Completion of the underground rail line that will connect the Central Railway Station with Sofia Airport is scheduled for 2015.