The building of Sofia Court House

Address

2 Vitosha Blvd.

Location

42.695412,23.320541

Description

Sofia Court House - a temple of Bulgarian justice. The building’s construction has a long-drawn history, all of 49 years, going through a great number of international and domestic design contests. The first design was made by architect F. Grunanger in 1886. In 1912–1914 the project of architect N. Lazarov for the current location of the edifice won the competition. In 1928, architect P. Koychev preserved Lazarov’s structure plan but he altered significantly the facade from eclecticism with elements of Baroque to austere neo-Classicism. The construction was finalized in 1940. The building boasts a synthesis of monumental architecture with sculpture, stained glass and mosaics. Illustrious Bulgarian sculptors and artists of the time, Lyubomir Dalchev, Dechko Uzunov and Ivan Penkov, were commissioned to do the interior. The lions on either side of the main entrance were sculptured by Velichko Minekov.