- Peter Torniov - Bureau XII
- Milena Filcheva
MIR Office Building
The historic centre of Sofia features a new mesmerizing office building that combines bright, effervescent design with the latest architectural technologies. From the minds of architects Peter Torniov and Milena Filcheva from Bureau XII, this striking project creates a bridge between modern architecture and tradition, while meeting the strictest comfort demands. High-insulation windows, doors, and façades by Reynaers Aluminium offered the ideal finishing touch to bring this ambitious project to life.
Consolidating history and modernity
In this high-density urban landscape, the architects were challenged to create a versatile office building with flexible workspaces, following the “shell and core” principle. For Peter Torniov, lead architect at Bureau XII, it was of paramount importance to address modern user needs, while respecting the historic surroundings: “This specific area is home to a variety of architectural styles. The fragmented image of the city is united by the "patina" - a trace left behind by time that gives the neighbourhood its warm and organic character.
“In this context,” Torniov continues, “our aim was to preserve the DNA of the urban environment, while at the same time looking for a contemporary approach that meets the project requirements.” A great example of this mission for preservation is the late antique tomb, a Roman monument discovered during the archaeological investigation preceding construction, now recovered and integrated in one of the green inner courtyards.
Transparency is key
The result ticks all the right boxes. The multi-storey building combines a monolithic grid of exposed concrete with large-scale windows framed in aluminium profiles, bringing in plenty of daylight. The main entrance to the building is centred around a public piazza, which also leads to an inner courtyard. On the top floor, a glass pavilion offers spectacular views and access to a roof garden, which can be used as alternative meeting location. Two underground levels are dedicated to parking, including charging stations for electric cars.
The scale of the building is controlled by cascading terraces that disrupt the façade and introduce vertical landscaping. It is a distinct design element that allows daylight to penetrate the office spaces and provides a visual break from the building’s long frontage. Peter Torniov explains: “To avoid that the office building would look disproportionately compared to the adjoining buildings, we implemented terraces at the western wall. They are arranged offset from each other, allowing additional light to penetrate the workspaces. As a result, the terraces create additional value, both as a source of light and as vertical green landscaping.
Integrating a high-quality aluminium façade in an exposed concrete structure is a technical challenge we successfully faced together.
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Peter Torniov, Bureau XII
The right solutions for the job
To create the aesthetic, transparent and highly insulated building envelope, multiple Reynaers Aluminium systems were selected. Expertly supplied by local fabricator Muharski Ltd., ConceptSystem 77 windows bring in a fresh breath of air on the second and third floor levels. An atypical opening type in the Bulgarian market, these large outward-opening windows are easy to operate with minimal effort. On the ground floor, ConceptWall 50 Structurally Clamped (SC) stick façade systems help create a transparent building envelope. All aluminium profiles sport an elegant natural anodised finish.
In the rooftop pavilion, ConceptPatio 155 Lift-Slide and SlimPatio 68 sliding systems connect the interior meeting room to the gardens. The slender sightlines of the profiles allow for vast glass surfaces, contributing to the building’s general sense of transparency while guaranteeing excellent thermal comfort for all.
A special custom solution can be found on the ground floor piazza. Here you see the MasterLine 8 Pivot Door, with 3mm aluminium sheets with hand-brushed finish. Due to its exceptional size (1800x3500mm), precise coordination between the different stakeholders was needed. Todor Dukov, Technical Support at Reynaers Aluminium Bulgaria, explains: “For the MasterLine 8 panel door, we paid special attention to the installation details. We worked proactively throughout the process to help the architect resolve complex points both quickly and confidently. Our input significantly improved the final execution on site and ensured that the bespoke elements were installed correctly.”
An architectural statement
The choice of materials proved to be essential to make this challenging project a success, Peter Torniov confirms: “The integration of a high-quality aluminium façade in an exposed concrete structure is a technical challenge we faced together. The result is a haptic experience, an interplay between the rough concrete texture and the smooth elegance of natural anodized aluminium frames.”
With the MIR building, the city of Sofia features a new landmark within its historic centre. By respecting the heritage of its surroundings, the office complex provides a remarkable architectural statement, embracing the capital’s rich past, while meeting contemporary user needs. New-build construction and urban preservation are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they enhance each other to establish a positive change today, and for the future.
