ADAPTations_EUS ( Sofia/ NY), MR+E (Los Angeles, CA), Frontal (Bucharest),Archis

Interventions (Berlin), Stela Krasteva, PhD (UCLA ,Los Angeles, CA), Zornitza Stoichkova (Hesed,
Sofia) and many others.

“ROMANI-EU”INFORMAL BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN ETHNICALLY

SEGRAGATED ROMANI NEIGHBOURHOOD IN “FACULTETA” SOFIA,
BULGARIA AND SHORT OVERVIEW OF SIMILAR CASE STUDIES OF
ROMANI INFORMAL DEVELOPMENT IN EUROPE .

Workshop June 3-5, 2010

Exhibition October 15-22, 2010

SUPPORTED BY ESTE FOUNDATION

Contents

3. Anelia-illegal constructions
Chapter 1

Chapter 4
INTRODUCTON
Comparative study of Informal developments
around the world - Los Angeles, USA
Chapter 2 China, Latin America, India

ROMANI-EU
Appendix
Map of locations of Romani in Europe
Workshop credits
Examples of Romani settlements in Europe:
Belgrad, Paris, Rome, Naples
Geoagiu, Miercireua Ciuc, Tirgu Mures

Chapter 3
ROMANI-BG
Short Overview of Roma Settlements in Sofia
Faculteta casestudy
Images, maps and graphics
Typical problems and issues:
1. Lili and Nedko - water
2. Zvezdi- electricity
ROMANI IN EUROPE
The question of the number of Roma could have a key point in the observation that the real number is usually 3 to 3.5
times higher then the official census. For Romania we can start from the 530000 and we will end up with 1,8 million
Roma while Bulgaria, with its 800.000 self declared, might expect to have nearly one million. The endless debate on
the size of the population has a lot to do with the fears of the majority and probably with an unacknowledged guilt.
The forced settlement of the nomads, the slavery episode and the forced migration culminated with the Holocaust
(Samudaripen in Romani) and is now followed by new forms of discrimination. Antigypsysm, in its contemporary form,
is spread on a scale that starts with a “No Gypsies allowed” poster and ends with the recent shootings in Bratislava.

For the architects, acknowledging the existence of new forms of apartheid should be part of the minimal professional
skills. Europe has a large number of Roma ghettos and looks like it is prepared to create new ones. We have to give
up the romantic image of the gipsy as a magic craftsman or a devilish musician, the naïve condemnation of the last
witchcraft and magic professionals, or the compulsive condemnation of the beggars and look closer at the diversity
within the Roma groups and at their potential to support our aging societies. In the same time we should try to review
our planning instruments and tune them to the real world.

@Catalin Berescu
 ROMANI IN EUROPE

12 000

TOTAL:
4 000
40 000
600 000

9 175 000
4 000

15 000
35 000

150 000
45 000
35 000
140 000 200 000
35 000

250 000
450 000
25 000

25 000
600 000
400 000
35 000
10 000
40 000
2 400 000
500 000
80 000
800 000
20 000 20 000
120 000
250 000
800 000 100 000 500 000
50 000
220 000
@Nina Ilieva
 BELGRADE
IDP is the acronym for Internally Displaced People, an euphemistic term used by the technocrats
to name the refugees of war. Under Gazela Bridge it was hard to distinguish among those who
fled because of the war and those who were chased away by rural poverty.A hard working activity
in the recycling industry was supporting the families for whom a generous relocation plan was
designed using a participatory method. The enthusiasm of the planning team led by the architect
Vladimir Macura was soon replaced by disappointment when the inhabitants were evicted and
transformed again into IDP’s.

тите

@Catalin Berescu
PARIS
One of the entrances of Paris, St. Denis, was hosting several Romanian Roma camps
until two years ago. Initially they were very well confined but as the number of inhabitants
increased they became more and more visible and were finally evicted

@Catalin Berescu
ROME
Left: More and more controlled camps are built over Europe to keep them
aside from the city, sometimes under the umbrella of generosity. One
infamous example: Castel Romano, near Rome, “Villagio della Solidarita”
as named by the socialist mayor Walter Veltroni, a container settlement
built 20 km away from the city, on the highway, with the next bus stop three
kilometres away from the guarded entrance, where around 800 Roma were
resettled by the police in a natural protected area, with not enough water
or access to school and employment. Camps like that are under constant
police surveillance, many surrounded by barbed wire and with controlled
access.

Right: Campo Boario, on the Lungotevere Testaccio, Rome: after living

for twenty years in the courtyard of an abandoned slaughter house, as a
collateral result of the scandal around Romanian Roma migrants, the Italian
Kalderash nomads have been chased away at the beginning of June 2008.

@Catalin Berescu
 NAPLES
ни от
е по-

We are in Scampia, a dormitory neighbourhood of the city, a place where the

unemployment rate reaches 50%, and we just made our way through large piles
of garbage and burnt cars (it was 2008, the famous trash crisis of Naples). Largely
controlled by Gomorra, drugs are easy to find between the blocks of flats a little bit
to the South, in Secondilliano, where you can sometimes step on a carpet of used
syringes. The Serbian Roma communities living under the highway are struggling
with the garbage, the lack of water and the unstable structures they inhabit. But
there are no drug dealers around. Most of the women are taking care of old Italians
while the guys do more or less qualified work on the grey market of constructions
and recycling

рада,
ri-
ай
ампо

са

и роми,
циран

@Catalin Berescu
 GEOAGIU
EOAGIUThis small Transylvanian town attracts tourists with its spa facilities. Thirty years
ago the Roma ghetto was surrounded by a concrete fence in order to prevent the
passengers from being disturbed by any unpleasant images. As the leader tells us
the history he appears to somehow agree: You know, we usually keep our children
naked because of the mud and it was not appropriate for the tourists to see so many
naked buts!

Go to Geoagiu, people are so poor that they walk naked! we were told in Orastie
while visiting another poverty neighbourhood. As a matter of fact only small children
are naked, quite logical for a mother when she has a lot of children to take care of,
ЬОАГИУthere’s a lot of mud around and the access to water is limited. We found them having
a good time playing in the mud (the parents don’t have money to send them to
kindergarten) and they appeared to be properly fed as well.Bread and juice were the
малък трансилвански град привлича туристи със своите СПА услуги. Преди трийсет години ромското гето е заградено с бетонен зид, за да предпази преминаващите от неприятни гледки.
о ни разказва историята, водачът сякаш изразява съгласие: „Знаете ли, обикновено държим децата голи заради калта и не е добре за туристите да виждат толкова много голи задници!”

main products sold by the local shop in 2006. Besides that, there were several bottles
рус може да бъде един ром? Един рус циганин цял живот ли ще бъде циганин или е подложен на натиск да се интегрира с русите? А какво да кажем за онези с по-тъмна кожа? Ще бъдат
е някога приети?

of vinegar, salt, lollipops, matches and sugar in coffee size sachets.

How blonde can a Gypsy be? Will a blonde gypsy be a gypsy his/her entire life or is
there a pressure to integrate for the blondes? What about the ones with darker skin
tones? Will they ever be accepted? Mud is not only a sign of authorities neglect but
lin Berescu
of very poor community cohesion. When we found out that people work for the City
and they are used for maintaining the drainage system we asked them why they don’t
create drainage in their own area. We received bitter looks and hopeless messages.

@Catalin Berescu
 Miercurea

MIERCUREA CIUC is a Transylvanian town with 42 000 inhabitants, Миеркуре

where Romanians are a minority (14%), while the majority is represented случаи на неподходящи усло
околната среда

by Hungarians (82%). Roma can be spotted both inside the city in mixed
communities and outside the city in separate communities. The case is relevant
for its variety of cases of improper living conditions, forced evictions, residential
segregation and environmental racism.

The Garbage Pit

The Garbage Pit

Twenty-five years ago there was no garbage pit here, near the stray dog facility,
and a family has moved here from the centre of the town, just three kilometres Площадката за отпадъ
Преди двайсет и пет години м

away from the town limits. Since then it grew up to a small community of 25
възможно за тях и техните де
седем порутени колиби - една
децата не ходят на училище,
пожарен кран. Хората са изл

people now housed in seven shacks, one inside the garbage pit and six on its
Електричество няма, но хора

Primaverii - Springtime

edge. Their history underlines the current processes of urban refurbishment

without taking people into account. Some of them don’t have identity cards; kids
don’t go school, as there is no transportation available. Their only source of water
is a fire hydrant. The only job available for them and for their children is sorting
the garbage for ten hours a day. People are exposed to rats and fire, actually
every year at least one of the shacks burns. There is no electricity but people still Primaverii – улица „Пролет”

decorate their interiors with electrical appliances. The lamps have no bulbs and
Те живеят близо до пречиств
сграда, пригодена за социалн
недостатъка:

the TV worked once on a car battery.

1. Расизъм в околната среда:
се позволява достъп до пром
здравето на цялата общност,
2. Сегрегация: Черният път, к
Районът за живеене е ограни

Miercurea Ciuc
дрехи, за пречиствателната с
3. Неподходящи условия за ж
жилища. Всяка е с площ от ок
като временно селище, пет го
цялата общност и четири дър

Primaverii - Springtime Street Миеркуреа Чук е град в Трансилвания, в който са налице най-различни
случаи на неподходящи условия за живот, насилствено прогонване, жилищна сегрегация и расизъм в
© Catalin Berescu

Spring never smells good for Roma here. Actually it’s quite the opposite, as they околната среда

live near a sewage treatment plant. They used to live inside the city, in a historical
building used as social housing, until 2004. The building was neglected and it
degraded, an expertise then qualified it as dangerous, then the community was
evicted and the building demolished. There are three major drawbacks with the
new location.
1. Environmental racism: the norms state that the living area should be at
least 300 m away from the sewage unit. This is not the case here, as the only
barrier between the houses and the reservoirs is a barbed wire fence. Children
sometimes play near industrial devices with moving parts and no electrical
insulation. The health of the entire community is in danger here, not to speak The Garbage Pit

about the permanent odour. The National Council for Combating Discrimination
has issued a fine for the local municipality (1200 Euro), but nothing followed
@Catalin Berescu
Площадката за отпадъци
Преди двайсет и пет години малка общност от 25 души пристига тук от града, в търсене на единственото
възможно за тях и техните деца препитание: сортиране на отпадъци по десет часа на ден. Настанени са в
TIRGU MURES
Valea Rece (Cold Valley) is the most well known poverty neighborhood in Tîrgu Mureş, a Transylvannian town of 150000 inhabitants. As their
periferral settlement is situated on a hill, the 1500 dwellers share a beautiful view over the city and the relative benefits of being situated on a
green grazing field and in the vicinity of the woods. Although there is more than 80 years since they are here, the legal status is still uncertain
as the land is still considered part of the municipal pasture. Some of the inhabitants pay taxes for the use of agricultural land, no one has fully
legal papers for the houses. In 1996, there were around 600 inhabitants, in 2000 there were 1001, now there are more than 1530, of which
around 200, recent migrants from rural areas, are considered to be squatters and can be evicted anytime.

The population is divided between the old inhabitants of the area, previously charactherised by multi-ethnicity, plantations and a rural
ethos and the newcomers, accused of dealing with robbery and prostitution. There are still some households that preserve the rural peace,
surrounded by several new houses of the 2% „rich” residents and by the shacks of the least fortunate. Both for the former and for the latter, the
environement is squalid, huge piles of garbage and lack of toilets is immediately noticeable, the lack of water determines a continuous row of
women and children carrying plastic bottles from the two water points

@Catalin Berescu
ROMANI-BG
Sustainable strategies for integration of informal peripheral settlements in Bulgaria and Europe.

One of the major challenges in urban development today is to successfully integrate the informal urban settlements, developed in the
outskirts of the largest cities. This is a widely spread phenomena around the world, especially in the developing world, where the
conventional city planning is unable to address the needs of these neighborhoods. In Bulgaria,following the collapse of the socialism,
the residents of such settlements are almost exclusively Romani. These minority’s communities consequently have to deal not only with
the severe infrastructural problems, typical for the informal settlements, but also with social isolation arising from the ethnic segregation.
The Roma informal settlements in Bulgaria and rest of South Eastern Europe, are very unique and quite different from the ones in Latin
America, India and China, but they all have to deal with inability of the master planning to resolve the inhabitant’s substandard living
conditions.

Тo move beyond racial prejudices and physical, economical, cultural and social isolation will not happen overnight. It is the direction,
which our project is taking, but we clearly understand that will be slow and difficult process, which has to deal with breaking century built
prejudices and stereotypes and accepting new way of thinking. Developing mutual trust between the national and regional governments
and Romani community organizations is crucial to realizing effective programmes, community participation and viable solutions. Our
project’s primary focus is “Fakulteta”, one of Bulgaria’s biggest Romani neighborhoods, located on 180 hectares, on the western outskirts
of Sofia. Many buildings there were built without a construction permit and lack of basic amenities. It is estimated that 40,000 people live
in “Fakulteta”.

A comparative study and analysis of the current situation of similar peripheral, neighborhoods in Romania, Albania and other European
countries will be made, where the Romani population is forming similar informal conditions. Additionally the research will document
methods and systems for formalizing un permitted residential constructions currently occurring around the world ( e.g. Latin America,
Asia). This will help us to better understand and work on the problem of informal housing, and position the current situation of Bulgarian
communities, in comparison to best practices form around the world.

The study will directly address this issue which is facing and effecting not only Bulgaria, but also the rest of South-Eastern Europe,
and the European Union as a whole. It will also inform the global discussion of the evolution of the 21st century city. The problem is
not constrained by the existing territorial boundaries and regions, but is European and global. This is why we believe that in order to
effectively respond and work towards a broadly applicable resolution, our team should be a collaboration by professionals from different
regions and geographies.

@Nina Ilieva
 къщите им без да са подсигурени с алтернативен подслон.

Татарли филиповци Бакърена Обеля Захарна Баталова Орландовци Милево Ботунец Христо гара “Искър”
2 500 7 500 фабрика 7 500 фабрика воденица Малашевци ханче Ботев Дружба
3 000 1000 500 500 500 2 500 10 000 3 000

Serbia
CASE STUDY “Faculteta” IN
SOFIA
“Faculteta”, located in the
0 hectares. Most The project
of the build- will focus on developing new strategies for physical improvement
nd maintenanceofofthe unregulated and ethnically segregated neighborhood “Faculteta”, located
existing
in the
priate technologies andoutskirts
strat- of the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. There are living more than 40
000and
fia’s municipalities people,
Ro- predominantly Romani, on an area of approximately 180 hectares.
neighborhoods Most of the buildings are illegal and have severe issues of habitability Sand
and eviction liv
n i
tza
sanitation.The work will aim methods for legalizing of the tenure, improvements Bl
vd Serbia
ora and Sliven.and
Manymaintenance
of these of existing structures, improvement of the infrastructure and .
inadequate transportation
establishing a sustainable way for integrating positive and working conditions
ally the Romani people have
using appropriate technologies and strategies that are within the economic
conditions of the Roma’s
scale
he houses in each Roma of the community’s internal capacity. The strategies will be developed
e and technicalinsolutions,
collaboration
the with the Sofia’s municipalities and Roma’s NGO for better Hemus Highway
integration
ency of interventions in public of the existing segregated neighborhood will be developed s I that
II
ori Sl
do not lead to the destruction of the existing neighborhoods and Teviction B of the
ivn
r itz
sa a
Bl

people forthere, a solution strongly supported by the current “Faculteta” residents

vd
d out of responsibility long .

. municipali-
c attempts of the
and planning how to legalize Hemus Highway

Roma neighborhoods are located on the outskirts of all of the major cities in Boris
III

urgency of finding proper ar

Bulgaria including Sofia, Plovdiv, Bourgas, Shumen, Stara Zagora and Sliven.
GO’s. Our proposal responds
Ts

Many of these communities are illegal in terms of their structure and occupation
rategies that will be applied.
g more humaneand city’sare socially and physically isolated. The reasons for that are complex:
environ-
ТА В БЪЛГАРИЯ inadequate transportation infrastructure and connections to the rest of the city,

c ADAPTations_EUS/2010
ФАКУЛТЕТА/ СОФИЯ
ethnic prejudices and resentment as well as cultural and economic differences.
Historically the Romani peopleMacedonia/
have chosen to remain separated in their own
Macedonia/
communities, even though they live in extreme poverty and insecurity. Steps to
improve the housing conditions Greece
of the Roma’s neighborhoods have been made
Greece

before, mostly sporadic and/or as short term solutions, in particular due to the

0
illegal status of the many or the houses in each Roma community. ХОРАТА и КВАРТАЛИТЕ
@Nina Ilieva
SOFIA
 Бургас,Шумен, Стара Загора и Сливен. Причините за това са комплексни: лоша инфраструктура и транспортни връзки, етнически предразсъдаци, културни
различия и др. Самите Роми се чустват по-добре в техните гета, отколкото сред етническите Българи, въпреки че живеят в крайна бедност и несигурност.
В миналото националните и регионалните правителства са се опитвали да решат проблемите на тези общности , но често това е довеждало до
задалбочаването им и до продължаващото изолиране на тази етническа група, успоредно с развитието на взаимното недоверие относно мотивацията и
ефективността на тези интервенции.
Sl Стъпки за подобряване на жилищните условия на ромските квартали са били предимно изолирани и /или краткосрочни решения, по-специално в резултат на
ivn
itz незаконният статут на постройките и земите.Добри примери за това са Софийският квартал „Христо Ботев” , също така новият жилищният квартал за Роми в
a
Bl Пазарджик с участието на фирма „Конкурент-90”, както и нереализираният проект на арх. Леонидов за новите предложения на квартал „Факултета”. Въпреки
vd
.
че през последните години много изследвания за развитието на жилищния проблем на ромските квартали са били проведени от Световната банка, ПРООН,
Европейската комисия, няма достатъчно средства изразходвани за практически решения. Има Национална програма за подобряване на условията на Ромите
STRATEGIES FOR INTEGRATION OF INFORMAL ROMANI SETTLEMENTS IN в България, приета с постановление No395 на Министерския съвет от 14 май 2004 година. Въз основа на всички данни от изследвания, дейностите за развитие
на архитектурни планове, регулиране на ромския квартал, както и изграждането на инфраструктурата трябва да са започнали много отдавна.

BULGARIA . Tsar
Boris
III
Hemus Highway Характерните ромски гета в София и квартали , където могат да се срещнат роми са: Филиповци, Обеля, Христо Ботев, Факултета, Баталова воденитца,
Малашевци, Ботунец, Татарли, Орландовци, Обеля, Захарна Фабрика и др.
“Факултета” е най-големямата ромска махала в София и се намира се в западните покрайнини на града,с площ от около 180 хектара. Повечето от сградите
са неформални и имат сериозни инфраструктурни проблеми. В момента повече от 40 000 души живеят във “Факултета”. и съглсно последните неофициални
данни само 20% от имотите и сградите са регулирани и с документирани, отговарящи нанормативите и изискванията. Само 40% имат достъп до течаща вода
и адекватна канализация и санитарни отводняване на практика не съществува. Няма обществен транспорт в рамките на квартала и градския транспорт на
София едва стига до покрайнините на квартал “Факултета”. Безработицата е около 80%. За повече от 70 години хората в този квартал се опитват да подобрят
инфраструктурата със собствени сили, с доброволен труд, без общ план и без технически сътрудник от държавата. Извинението на правителството е, че тя
не може да отпуска средства за инфраструктура и облогородяване, предвид факта, че квартала е незаконен. Това е парадоксът и се отразява на хиските
условията на живот и неспособността на правителството да реши проблема ефективно и успешно.

Until now, however, each Bulgarian government has looked for temporary Има изолирани опити на местните Роми да получат собственост на земя и сгради, както и изолирани опити на общините за решаване на проблема. Няма
единна политика координирана между местните общини и Министертсвото на регионалното развитие, имайки се в предвид цялостното развитие на града,

solution of the problem, and the current government has also opted out of
Macedonia/
планиране и управление. Усилията в тази насока на практика спряха след 2004 г. е със закон за забрана за узаконяване на незаконни сгради и населени
места в България. Това доведе до постоянна несигурност и страх в ромските семейства, тъй като те могат да бъдат изгонени всяко време, ако не получават
responsibility for long term solutions. There are sporadic attempts of Roma
Greece
собствеността на земята. Дори ако са живели повече от 50 години на даден имот, Ромите не могат да получат право на собственост върху него.
На 4-ти март 2010 година се състоя кръгла маса в София, организиран от Helsinskiа комитет и Европейския ромски Комитет, с участието на българското
residents to obtain ownership of the land and buildings they occupy, as well правителство, общините и няколко ромски и неправителствени организации . Основните проблеми, които се разглеждаха да бъдат следващите стъпки за
подобряването на сегашната ситуация на ромите. В частност, беше подчертано важността за намирането на нови и по-ефикасни пътища за легализирането
as sporadic attempts of the municipalities to improve the conditions in these и привеждането им към минималните изискванията и норми на стандарт за живот в градовете, както и да се спре насилственото изгонване на хората от

ХОРАТА и КВАРТАЛИТЕ
communities. One issue is definitely clear - most of the previous studies
къщите им без да са подсигурени с алтернативен подслон.

SOFIA
do not offer extensive study and planning how to legalize the land tenure of
the residents, considering the overall development of the city planning and
administration.

On March 4, 2010, The European Roma Rights Center and the Bulgarian
Татарли филиповци Бакърена Обеля Захарна Баталова Орландовци Милево Ботунец Христо гара “Искър”
2 500 7 500 фабрика 7 500 фабрика воденица Малашевци ханче Ботев Дружба
3 000 1000 500 500 500 2 500 10 000 3 000

Helsinki Committee organized Round table discussion where the urgency of

finding proper solutions to solve the problem was addressed to Bulgarian Serbia
ROMAS government,
IN SOFIA Ministry of Regional development, Local Municipalities and
CASE STUDY “FACULTETA” INresponds
NGO’s. Our proposal SOFIA to these final conclusions and recommendations.
The key questions will focus on the new urban typology, which will emerge
from
capital ofthe new
Bulgaria, strategies
Sofia. There that
are living more than 40 000will
people,be applied.
predominantly Romani, onThis
an area ofeventually willMost
The project will focus on developing new strategies for physical improvement of the unregulated and ethnically segregated neighborhood “Faculteta”, located in the
outskirts of the approximately 180 hectares. develop
of the build- a new
approach, incorporating the existing informal conditions, while improving
ings are illegal and have severe issues of habitability and sanitation.The work will aim methods for legalizing of the tenure, improvements and maintenance of existing
structures, improvement of the infrastructure and establishing a sustainable way for integrating positive and working conditions using appropriate technologies and strat-
the
egies that arecity’s regulations
within the economic and
scale of the community’s offering
internal capacity. more humane
The strategies will be developed city’s environment
in collaboration for
with the Sofia’s municipalities diverse
and Ro- ethnic
ma’s NGO for better integration of the existing segregated neighborhood will be developed that do not lead to the destruction of the existing neighborhoods and eviction Sl
of the peopleandthere, a cultural
solution strongly groups.
supported by the Till
current this moment there has not been done at the same
ivn
itz
“Faculteta” residents . a
Bl
Roma neighborhoods are located on the outskirts of all of the major cities in Bulgaria including Sofia, Plovdiv, Bourgas, Shumen, Stara Zagora and Sliven. Many of these vd
communities time
are illegal the
in termstwo processes -- are
the one parallel bottom upare approach initiated by the .
of their structure and occupation and socially and physically isolated. The reasons for that complex: inadequate transportation

chosen to remain separated in their own communities, even though they live in extreme poverty and insecurity. Steps to improve the housing conditions of the Roma’s long-term
Roma’s residents and volunteers and top down approach of regulated
infrastructure and connections to the rest of the city, ethnic prejudices and resentment as well as cultural and economic differences. Historically the Romani people have

community. Inplanning by and the

regionalcity administration, backed up with whole government
and technical solutions, politics.
neighborhoods have been made before, mostly sporadic and/or as short term solutions, in particular due to the illegal status of the many or the houses in each Roma
the past the national governments have approached these communities with culturally inappropriate infrastructure the Hemus Highway

improvements.
Currently Bulgarian government is under intense pressure by international
latter as resulting in a continuing marginalization of this ethnic group and the development of mutual distrust about the motivations and efficiency of interventions in public
Tsa
r Bo
ris
III

agencies
Until now, however, each Bulgarian togovernment
takehasdrastic measures
looked for temporary to resolve
solution of the problem, and the currentthe problem
government around
has also opted theforcountry
out of responsibility
term solutions. There are sporadic attempts of Roma residents to obtain ownership of the land and buildings they occupy, as well as sporadic attempts of the municipali-
long .
ties to improveAthecomparative study
conditions in these communities. and
One issue analysis
is definitely ofthe previous
clear - most of (informal)studies do not building
offer extensive studydevelopment,
and planning how to legalize methods

On March 4, and2010, The system

European Roma for Rights formalizing
Center and the Bulgarianun permitted residential construction currently
the land tenure of the residents, considering the overall development of the city planning and administration.
Helsinki Committee organized Round table discussion where the urgency of finding proper

to these final conclusions and recommendations. The key questions will focus on the new urban typology, which will emerge from the new strategies that will be made
happening around the world ( China, Latin America, India) will be also, in
solutions to solve the problem was addressed to Bulgarian government, Ministry of Regional development, Local Municipalities and NGO’s. Our proposal responds
applied.
order to help to position the current situation of Bulgarian informal
This eventually will develop a new approach, incorporating the existing informal conditions, while improving the city’s regulations and offering more humane city’s environ-
ment for diverse ethnic and cultural groups. СТРАТЕГИИ ЗА ИНТЕГРИРАНЕ НА НЕФОРМАЛНИТЕ РОМСКИ НАСЕЛЕНИ МЕСТА В БЪЛГАРИЯ
constructions,

c ADAPTations_EUS/2010
ФАКУЛТЕТА/ СОФИЯ

in comparison to the global development of the same problem. The study not Macedonia/
only will aim to help resolving the issue so common currently in South-East Greece
Europe, but also will inform better the global discussion of the evolution of the

0
21st century city.

@Nina Ilieva
 Chapter 2

@Nina Ilieva
@Nina Ilieva
@Nina Ilieva
 0
c ADAPTations_EUS/2010

@Nina Ilieva
 1
ДОБРЕ ДОШЛИ!
WELCOME!

ЛИЛИ и НЕДКО
LILI and NEDKO

@Nina Ilieva

0
c ADAPTations_EUS/2010
@Nina Ilieva
@Nina Ilieva
 2
ДОБРЕ ДОШЛИ!

21
WELCOME!

ЗЛАТИ и КОСТАДИН
ZLATI and KOSTADIN

@Nina Ilieva
@Nina Ilieva
@Nina Ilieva
.

CURRENTLY ROMANI NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE THE

GARBAGE AND SUMP SPOTS OF THE BIGGEST CITIES

@Nina Ilieva
HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE IDENTITY OF THE
NEIGHBOURHOOD?

HOW WE CAN TURN IT FROM PLACE OF CONSUMPTION

TO PLACE OF PRODUCTION?

WHAT IF THE ROMANI NEIGHBOURHOOD BECOME OFF

THE GRID PLACE?

SELF- HELP PROGRAMS:

@Nina Ilieva
 1. Sewage and Garbage as a Fuel
A new kind of waste treatment system has been developed by Virgis Waste
Control LLC,that holds the potential to improve water quality, reduce landfill
usage, and to provide a large supply of renewable fuel. The process is called
Septage Bioractor Lanfill technology, and it does something that hasn’t been
done before (in a way that is considered sustainble), blending sewage with
garbage and producing fuel.

2. Graywater Reuse and Rainwater Harvesting

3. Wastewater treatment-”LIVING MASHINE”

designed to mimic the cleansing functions
of the wetlands

@Nina Ilieva
 The informal urban development is widely spread
phenomena around the world, expecially in the developing
world: The Roma informal settlements in South Eastern
Europe are very unique and quite different from the ones in
Latin America, India and China,but it will be very useful to
look how the people around the world are solving similar
problems, keeping in mind that we need to look for our
unique solution.

© http://landscapeofaztlan.wordpress.com/

Caracas, Latin America

© Moule & Polyzoides Architects © Мaria Lanz

Colonial settlements Mumbai/India

on the border of
USA/Latin America
@Nina Ilieva
LOS ANGELES, CA PROGRAM TO CORRECT THE
NONCONFORMING USES BY PROVIDING PATH FOR
LEGITIMIZING THESE UNITS

НЕРЕГУЛИРАНА ЧАСТ ОТ
ИЗТОЧЕН ЛОС АНДЖЕЛЕС
Unincorporated East LA
НЕРЕГУЛИРАНА ЧАСТ ОТ
UNINCORPORATED EAST LA

ИЗТОЧЕН ЛОС АНДЖЕЛЕС

ЦЕНТЪР НА ЛОС АНДЖЕЛЕС
DOWNTOWN LA

UNINCORPORATED
ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ ЗА EAST LA
Uninconventional plan
УСЛОВЕН ПЛАН:
UNCONVETIONAL PLAN:
ЦЕНТЪР НА ЛОС АНДЖЕЛЕС
DOWNTOWN LA

ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЕ ЗА
УСЛОВЕН ПЛАН:
UNCONVETIONAL PLAN:

@Nina Ilieva
2. THE AREA SHOULD BE CANVASSED FOR AREAS OF NON COMPLIENCE.
THIS CAN INCLUDE REVIEW OF NUMBER OF UTILITY CONNECTIONS,
PER LEGAL UNIT, POSTAL RECORDS AND POSTAL INFORMATION IN 1. DOCUMENT: DEFYING UNPERMITTED
OCCUPATION AND SETTING FINES FOR
ADDITION TO PHYSICAL INSPECTION. CONTINUING NON COMPLIENCE

LOS ANGELES, CA PROGRAM TO CORRECT THE

NONCONFORMING USES BY PROVIDING PATH FOR
LEGITIMIZING THESE
LA PROGRAM UNITS
TO CORRECT THE NONCONFORMING
A USES BY PROVIDING
B P CORRECT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN 90
DAYS OR SUBJECT TO FINE
CONDITIO

1. Document: Defying unpermitted 90 days

occupation and setting fines for UNPERMITTED 3. Units that appear to be out of
1. DOCUMENT:
continuing non complience
DEFYING
OCCUPATION AND SETTING FINES FOR
CONTINUING NON COMPLIENCE
2. complience
THIS CAN INCLUDE REVIEW be
an PER
order
LEGALto
should
correct
UNIT,
notified
OF NUMBER
the
OF UTILITY
condition
POSTAL RECORDS
3.
with CONNECTIONS,
THE AREA SHOULD BE CANVASSED FOR AREAS OF NON COMPLIENCE.

AND POSTAL INFORMATION IN

THE PROPERTY OWNER AN
TO EXTEND THE VIOLATION
ADDITION TO PHYSICAL INSPECTION.

+
2. The areas should be canvased
for areas of non complience. This can
include review of number of untility
connections, per legal unit.SHOULD
Records
2.
physical inspection
THE AREA
and postal information in addition
BE CANVASSED FOR AREAS OF NON COMPLIENCE.
to
THIS CAN INCLUDE REVIEW OF NUMBER OF UTILITY CONNECTIONS,
PER LEGAL UNIT, POSTAL RECORDS AND POSTAL INFORMATION IN
3. UNITS THAT APPEAR TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE
ADDITION TO PHYSICAL INSPECTION.
SHOULD BE NOTIFIED WITH AN ORDER TO CORRECT
THE CONDITION

CORRECT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN 90

A DAYS OR SUBJECT TO FINE

3. UNITS THAT APPEAR TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE

SHOULD BE NOTIFIED WITH AN ORDER TO CORRECT
THE CONDITION 90 days
@Nina Ilieva
 LOS ANGELES, CA PROGRAM TO CORRECT THE
NONCONFORMING
LA PROGRAM USES
TO CORRECT THE NONCONFORMING USES BYPATH
BY PROVIDING PROVIDING
FOR LEGITIMIZING THESEPATH
PROGRAM TO CORRECT THE NONCONFORMING USES BY PROVIDING PATH FOR LEGITIMIZING THESE UNITS
UNITS FOR
LEGITIMIZING
LA PROGRAM
DOCUMENT: DEFYING UNPERMITTED THESE
TO CORRECT THE NONCONFORMING
OCCUPATION AND SETTING FINES FOR
3.
UNITS
USES BY PROVIDING PATH FOR LEGITIMIZING THESE UNITS THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE COUNTY WILL AGREE
TO EXTEND THE VIOLATION

3.
CUMENT:CONTINUING NON COMPLIENCE
DEFYING UNPERMITTED
CUPATION AND SETTING FINES FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE COUNTY WILL AGREE
NTINUING NON COMPLIENCE TO EXTEND THE VIOLATION

3a. The property owner and the 3.

DOCUMENT: DEFYING UNPERMITTED
OCCUPATION AND SETTING FINES FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THE COUNTY WILL AGREE
CONTINUING NON COMPLIENCE TO EXTEND THE VIOLATION

county will agree to extend the violation

==
+
+
THE AREA SHOULD BE CANVASSED FOR AREAS OF NON COMPLIENCE.
THIS CAN INCLUDE REVIEW OF NUMBER OF UTILITY CONNECTIONS,
+ =
PER LEGAL
E AREA SHOULD UNIT, POSTALFOR
BE CANVASSED RECORDS
AREAS AND POSTAL
OF NON INFORMATION IN
COMPLIENCE.
ADDITION
S CAN INCLUDE TO PHYSICAL
REVIEW INSPECTION.
OF NUMBER OF UTILITY CONNECTIONS,
R LEGAL UNIT, POSTAL RECORDS AND POSTAL INFORMATION IN
THE AREA SHOULD BE CANVASSED FOR AREAS OF NON COMPLIENCE.
DITION TO PHYSICAL INSPECTION.
THIS CAN INCLUDE REVIEW OF NUMBER OF UTILITY CONNECTIONS,
PER LEGAL UNIT, POSTAL RECORDS AND POSTAL INFORMATION IN
ADDITION TO PHYSICAL INSPECTION.

A. Correct
A the circumstances
CORRECT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN 90
DAYS OR SUBJECT TO FINE BB.Conditional use permit
CONDITIONIAL USE PERMIT:

in 90
A days or subject to fine
CORRECT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN 90
DAYS OR SUBJECT TO FINE B CONDITIONIAL USE PERMIT:

CORRECT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN 90

A DAYS OR SUBJECT TO FINE B CONDITIONIAL USE PERMIT:

90 days
90 days
90 days -Stay in in
- Stay the village
the village:
-preserve
- Stay the
thedwelling
in the village:
-preserve dwelling
--preserve
Stay in thethe
village:
dwelling
-preserve the dwelling

- newadditions
-New additions to
to comply
- new additions
with
- newcomply the to comply
current plan
with
additions current
to comply
with the current plan
plan
with the current plan

UNITS THAT APPEAR TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE

SHOULD BE NOTIFIED WITH AN ORDER TO CORRECT

$$
S THATTHE CONDITION
APPEAR
UNITS TOAPPEAR
THAT BE OUTTOOFBECOMPLIANCE
OUT OF COMPLIANCE
ULD BESHOULD
NOTIFIED
BEWITH AN ORDER
NOTIFIED WITH ANTOORDER
CORRECT
TO CORRECT

$
CONDITION
THE CONDITION

@Nina Ilieva -Expires on sale or

transfer the unit - expires on sale
-- expires
or on
expires onsale
sale the unit
transfer
or
or transferthe
transfer theunit
unit
1
WHAT IF THE ROMANI NEIGHBOURHOOD BECOME OFF THE GRID PLACES??
PLACES OF PRODUCTION THAN PLACE OF CONSUMPTION?
2.
WHAT IF IT BECOMES AN UNIQUE BULGAIAN -ROMA CENTER PLACE TO
CELEBRATE THE ROMANI CULTURE, WHERE PEOPLE AND TOURIS TS FROM BULGARIA
AND AROUND THE WORLD WILL COME TO CELEBRATE AND EXPERIENCE THE ROMANI
CULTURE
Instead of investing to plug in into existing infrastructure we can
build them totally off the grid !

ROMANI NEIGHBOUROOD IS THE “

GARBAGE AND SUMP” SPOT
INTO

ENERGY PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION HUB:

Sewage and Garbage as a Fuel:

A new kind of waste treatment system has been

developed by Viridis Waste Control LLC, that
holds the potential to improve water quality,
reduce landfill usage, and to provide a large
supply of renewable fuel. The process is called
Septage Bioreactor Landfill technology, and it
does something that hasn’t been done before
(in a way that is considered sustainable);
blending sewage with garbage.

Graywater Reuse and Rainwater Harvesting

Wastewater treatment-”LIVING MASHINE”

SELF HELP PROGRAMS, WHERE THE ROMANI ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK

3.
-all that creates new jobs and employment opportunities for the Romani people.
PLACE FOM ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL GUIDE IN BULGARIA AND
WHAT IF THE BALKANS WITH LEARNING MORE ABOUT ROMANI CULTURE
ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL CAN BE ONE ONE OF THE MOST EDUCATIONAL , INSPIRING,
AND EXCITING THING YOU DO IN YOUR LIFETIME, FOR ADVENTURE TRAVELER .
Exhibition as part of the Sofia Architecture Week (SAW)

Sustainable strategies for the integration of informal peripheral settlements in Bulgaria and Europe.
Open House (15. – 22. 10. 2010)

Exhibition organized by Nina Ilieva – ADAPTations_EUS (NY/Sofia) in collaboration with Kai Voeckler – Archis In-
terventions (Berlin), Catalin Berescu – FRONTAL (Bucharest), David Bergman – MR+E (LA), Ersela Kripa and Ste-
phen Mueller – AGENCY (NY), Selva Gürdoğana and Gregers Tang Thomsen – SUPERPOOL (Istanbul)

The exhibition concieved by ADAPTations_EUS ltd,was curated by SAW-Open house curator fordewind architecture ltd
( Ephgenia Hodkevitch & Boris Enev).

Theme of the Sofia Architecture Week 2010 is »BEING PERIPHERAL«.believe that the major issue when addressing the
theme or nature of “periphery” is the situation of the Roma population. Our research showed that almost 800.000 Bulgari-
an citizens are Roma while the total Roma population of Europe is 12 million; Roma are hence the largest ethnic minority in
Europe. Yet neither the Bulgarian government nor the European Union is making a serious effort to promote and facilitate
their rights to equality and a dignified existence.

The presented investigation made by ADAPTations_EUS in collaboration with FRONTAL and Archis Interventions focuses
primarily on “Fakulteta”, one of Bulgaria’s biggest Romani neighbourhoods, located on 180 hectares on the western out-
skirts of Sofia, and home to an estimated 40,000 people. Most buildings there were built without a construction permit and
lack basic amenities, a part of the area, named Cambodia, being a real slum. This is often the case with numerous Roma
communities around Europe, both in historically inherited situations in the East or in improvised illegal migrant camps in the
West. The exhibition presents examples of both situations in order to situate Fakulteta in an European context. However,
examples of positive strategic developments in Los Angeles, Rome and Diarbekir presented by MR+E, AGENCY and
SUPERPOOL demonstrate new potential for the successful re-urbanisation and social integration of restless peripheral
neighbourhoods.
APPENDIX
Credits

Credits

WORKSHOP

ADAPTations - Nina Ilieva

Frontal - Catalin Bereascu
Archis Interventions: Kai Vöckler

Collaborators:

Evgenija Hodkevitch, principle Fordewind, Sofia, Bulgaria

Boris Enev, principle Fordewind, Sofia, Bulgaria
Stela Krasteva-Phd, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Blagovest Valkov
Arch. Biser Hantov, Konkurent-90
Krasimir Kanev, Chair Helsinski Commette
David Bergman- MR+E, Los Angeles, CA
To be completed ROmani Bhat Foundation, Sofia, Bulgaria
HESED foundation, Sofia, Bulgaria

Supported by ERSTE Foundation