Design stages in Bulgaria: from idea to building permit
A short guide for clients — what happens between the first conversation with an architect and breaking ground.
When people decide to build, the first question is usually “how long will it take?”. The answer depends on the site, the size and the complexity of the building, but the path almost always goes through the same stages. Here they are in brief — the way we explain them at a first meeting.
1. Research and preliminary data
Before design begins, we need to know what can be built on the site. The property documents are gathered (a cadastral sketch, proof of ownership), a design and planning visa is requested where required, and the utility companies provide their conditions for power, water and sewage. At the same time we study the terrain, orientation, views and neighbours.
2. Concept
This is the stage of imagination. We look for one clear idea — how the building sits on the site, how light enters, how people move through it. We work with sketches, models and images until the idea becomes a shared starting point for the client and the team.
3. Scheme design (идеен проект)
The concept develops into scaled drawings: plans, sections, elevations, principal materials. Areas, functional relationships and the character of the building are settled here.
4. Technical and construction design
The architecture is coordinated with every engineering discipline — structure, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, energy performance and fire safety. The construction documents contain the details and specifications the building is actually built from. The better a detail is resolved here, the less improvisation there will be on site.
5. Approval and building permit
The design is submitted for coordination and approval to the municipality (district administration), after which a building permit is issued. Timings depend on the project and the administration, so it pays to plan for them early.
6. Construction and design supervision
During construction the architect carries out design supervision (авторски надзор) — making sure the building follows the design and resolving the questions that come up on site. This is where imagination becomes matter.
Every project is different: the exact procedure depends on the category of the building, its location and the municipality. At the first meeting we will tell you which steps apply to yours.
