In the world of Balkan Range Architecture
The programme aims to promote the features of the Balkan Mountain National Revival era architecture as well as preserved knowledge and technologies in the field of traditional construction with the use of natural materials.
In 2016, Museum Etar jointly with Meshtra —traditional knowledge and crafts Association received financing under the program Culture of the Ministry of Culture for the execution of the project In the world of Balkan Range architecture. As part of it, a one-day educational program was developed and tested, comprising three modules: a lecture, presentation of an interactive digital exposition of the Bulgarian Revival Era house and a practical workshop. The program's goal is to popularize the features of Balkan Range Revival architecture and preserved knowledge and technologies in vernacular building construction with natural materials. The practical module focused on making wooden fittings.
The profile of the people who joined the first edition of the program was remarkably diverse – from architects and construction engineers, through artists and restorers, to computer specialists keen on renovation of old houses as a hobby. Three French nationals with interests in Bulgarian Revival Era architecture joined the trainings.
The successful implementation of the project motivated the team of Etar Museum to launch a two-day paid educational program in 2017 under the same motto, In the world of Balkan Range architecture, and with the participation of guest speaker Arpad Roman from the Hungarian open-air museum in the city of Szentendre. He is an engineer specialized in the preservation of historical buildings. The second edition of the educational program was again held jointly with Meshtra Association and was financially supported by the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria. The trainings were organized in two modules—a lecture course with a variety of topics devoted to vernacular architecture and its preservation, and practical activities with vernacular building technologies and materials.
The successful implementation of the project motivated the team of Etar Museum to launch a two-day paid educational program in 2017 under the same motto, In the world of Balkan Range architecture, and with the participation of guest speaker Arpad Roman from the Hungarian open-air museum in the city of Szentendre. He is an engineer specialized in the preservation of historical buildings. The second edition of the educational program was again held jointly with Meshtra Association and was financially supported by the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria. The trainings were organized in two modules—a lecture course with a variety of topics devoted to vernacular architecture and its preservation, and practical activities with vernacular building technologies and materials.
The third edition of the educational program was already a three-day event carried out jointly again with Meshtra Association and The Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria. Many students from the University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy in Sofia showed interest in it, and the guest speaker in the theoretical module was Darren Barker from UK who shared his experience in the preservation and restoration of old houses. The practical module focused on work with stone, more notably on dry construction.
The program's fourth edition in 2019 was the most successful one so far and had more than 40 participants. By an established tradition it was organized jointly with Meshtra Association and the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria. The lecture module offered a variety of topics with special attention given to wood—type of timber used in construction; treatment and ways of processing for the conservation of wooden elements. Guest speaker was architect Damla Acar from Turkey with a presentation of the types of traditional wooden constructive systems in Western Anatolia during the 19th century. The workshops in the program had a highlight too—practical work with wood.
On the Museum's grounds visitors can see display panels from all editions of the educational program and the works of participants created during the workshops.
On the Museum's grounds visitors can see display panels from all editions of the educational program and the works of participants created during the workshops.
The theme of the educational program’s fifth edition was the staircase. With its specific details and variants of application, it used to be one of the challenges in the Balkan Mountain National Revival era house. Building a stone staircase by means of the dry stone technique was the focus of one of the programme’s workshops.
In order to illustrate based on examples the types of traditional construction methods characteristic of the region, in 2020, a tour of the architectural sites at the neighbourhood of Etar and in the village of Potoka became part in the format. This new element in the programme elicited very positive reactions, and even children present observed the old houses with delight and sincere curiosity asking many questions. The programme also incorporated a children's panel with workshops.
The Regional College of the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria and the company Röfix Bulgaria were the main sponsors. A retrospective exhibition exploring the development of the educational programme over the years was arranged.
In order to illustrate based on examples the types of traditional construction methods characteristic of the region, in 2020, a tour of the architectural sites at the neighbourhood of Etar and in the village of Potoka became part in the format. This new element in the programme elicited very positive reactions, and even children present observed the old houses with delight and sincere curiosity asking many questions. The programme also incorporated a children's panel with workshops.
The Regional College of the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria and the company Röfix Bulgaria were the main sponsors. A retrospective exhibition exploring the development of the educational programme over the years was arranged.
The focus of the program in 2021 was the traditional roof covered with stone slabs (tikli) from the region of the Central Balkan Mountain. This core theme was also present in the topics of the lecture panel. Pavel Kunchev, assistant restorer at the Etar Museum, was leading a workshop of the same name. The participants in the programme had the opportunity to work on a wooden structure representing a model of a kyoshk (kiosk); on models of walls from a National Revival era house with fillings of adobe bricks and of a wattle fence of hazel with clay and straw; and also on a stone wall with dry stone masonry.
The children's panel was upgraded by creating a model of a dog kennel. This part of the programme enabled children to learn some basic construction skills with the use of traditional materials.
In the recent years, In the World of Balkan Mountain Architecture has increasingly evolved as a family training program.
The children's panel was upgraded by creating a model of a dog kennel. This part of the programme enabled children to learn some basic construction skills with the use of traditional materials.
In the recent years, In the World of Balkan Mountain Architecture has increasingly evolved as a family training program.
In 2022, the theme of the annual edition was The Yard and the Garden. The programme featured again both practical activities and various lectures emphasizing the organization of the traditional courtyard.
The workshops were thematic:
Nine kids joined the children's panel and in addition to traditional construction training, they also had the opportunity to make wooden plant pots.
The workshops were thematic:
- Fences and retaining walls with dry stone masonry led by Hristo Totsev;
- Wooden garden furniture and assemblies hosted by Stefan Parisov;
- Plochnik – yard pavement with stone slabs with Pavel Kunchev.
Nine kids joined the children's panel and in addition to traditional construction training, they also had the opportunity to make wooden plant pots.
A New Life for the Old House was the theme of the programme in 2023. The eighth edition of In the World of Balkan Mountain Architecture was supported by the companies Röfix and Multiimpex. More than 40 persons joined the training process, with a large share of them participating in the programme regularly. Velizar Blaskov, for example, had perfected his dry stone masonry skills to such an extent that at the suggestion of Master Hristo Totsev, he received a document – A Certificate for a Journeyman, and is already among the official trainers in the programme.
For another year running, the opportunity to go hunting for materials in nature was very well received by both adults and children.
For another year running, the opportunity to go hunting for materials in nature was very well received by both adults and children.
Present-day people have increasingly turned to nature in their quest to live healthy lives. The materials which our dwellings are made from are undoubtedly among the key factors to achieve a favourable living environment. This is the reason why the educational programme In the World of Balkan Mountain Architecture included presentations with field demonstrations of building materials made of high-quality Troyan clay and with materials for the restoration of historical plastering.
During the practical workshops participants worked on:
· a stone wall representing dry stone masonry (without mortar) typical of the traditional Bulgarian architecture;
· wooden window shutters made of coniferous wood treated and sealed with a finishing;
building a wall model with the sliding formwork technique; selection and preparation of materials and kneading an adobe mixture for fillings and bricks.
· a stone wall representing dry stone masonry (without mortar) typical of the traditional Bulgarian architecture;
· wooden window shutters made of coniferous wood treated and sealed with a finishing;
building a wall model with the sliding formwork technique; selection and preparation of materials and kneading an adobe mixture for fillings and bricks.
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