The emblematic space for generations of students and teachers at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" - "The Egg", begins a new stage of its existence. It will now be a modern space for public events, which will also house a modern laboratory.
"The hall has incredible acoustics. We did a special voiceover. It can be used for anything – from conferences to concerts. We have equipped it in such a way that the hall can quickly change from one form to another, so that various events can take place there," explained Prof. Dr. Olya Harizanova from the "Heritage BG" Center for Excellence, quoted by BNR.
"The revived "Egg", the infamous "Egg" now there are two main areas – event hall and premises for the newly created laboratory for conservation and restoration of documentary monuments at the University Library. Both the hall and the laboratory have been completely renovated without disturbing the cultural monument of national importance, which is the "Egg". Everything is equipped with modern equipment, with new furniture. We also restored the English Court – internal open space."
Years ago, teachers and students called the "Egg" a semi-subterranean achievement located beneath the central lobby of the Rectory. Today, those born after 1989 have hardly heard of "The Egg,", noted Prof. Harizanova. There isn't much information about "The Egg". They tried to find architectural plans, but without success, she added.
"Not much is known about this part of the Rector's building. There are no documents to help unravel his past. It is not clear what exactly the architects planned it for. Some think it was built for a chapel – therefore they gave it an oval shape, but since it was not located according to the canon, there was no way for the Church to consecrate it. The most interesting thing is that the shape exactly copies the shape of the central lobby of the Rectory. Over the years, various rectors have changed the purpose of this huge room. I remember that in the 70s and 80s the Egg was a gym. Later, for a little while, this place became a repository for the books of the university library. In the 1980s, it became a canteen for lunch and a restaurant for dinner," Prof. Harizanova said in the program "Horizon do Oed".
Prior to the 1989 changes, "The Egg" it was also a place for informal meetings and an exchange of civic energy.
"You could breathe there and now I will breathe freely again," commented Olya Harizanova. "There will no longer be a place for brandy and shop salad. Where the old kitchen was, is now a laboratory with amazing equipment for restoration and conservation. From now on, it will be a place for empathy, for encounters with spirituality.
The opening of the renovated space will take place on April 16 at 11:00 a.m.
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