An architectural manual with useful resources for transforming the outdoor environment in a school is available to all Sofia districts

The yards of two schools in the Serdika district of the capital will have a completely new - green, functional and modern look. The program "From a gray schoolyard to a modern community center" is an expression of the vision of the mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev for a complete transformation of the open spaces in schools throughout Sofia. A manual with good practices and operational resources has been prepared as part of the initiative to help all district administrations. The goal is to support the construction of a modern, green environment not only for students, but also for all residents of the neighborhoods in the capital.

"At the beginning of the mandate, we started talking about opening the schoolyards to the people who live around them - so that all children in Sofia will have access to spaces for sports and outdoor games close to home. Our ambition has grown and we have created a comprehensive sustainable solution to completely transform the way we see the school - as an oasis for everyone in the neighborhood,” said Terziev.

The program “From a gray schoolyard to a modern community center” envisages not only an aesthetic renovation of schoolyards. Its core is a transformation - from a space for shorts breaks into a multifunctional and modern area, integrated with the educational process, which combines opportunities for recreation, sports, social interaction and outdoor learning, as well as many green spaces.

“Today just a classroom is not sufficient. With this concept we will completely change the environment in which children and teachers live, work and learn, and hopefully parents and communities as a whole, spend a lot of time. Green and modern schoolyards, where children are free to communicate, play sports and build on their knowledge, are not only an investment in them, but also in the development of the local community,” is convinced Momchil Daskalov, mayor of Serdika district and head of the pilot phase of the program.

The two pilot projects will be implemented at 59 Primary School “Vasil Levski” and 29 Secondary School “Kuzman Shapkarev”. They were selected because they are of different sizes and locations, and in order to develop solutions for spaces in the central and peripheral parts of the city, for schools with over 350 students, as well as for smaller ones. A systematic approach was applied in developing the concept - a study of global good practices for the design and use of schoolyards, an analysis of the existing environment, and a survey of the attitudes of the local community.

The work on the projects has also served as the basis for the development of an Architectural Handbook for Sustainable and Functional Spaces, which has been provided to all district administrations in Sofia. In addition to a catalog of good practices from around the world, the handbook also includes a compass for applicable regulations at the national and local level, useful standards for sports facilities, guidelines for zoning, assignment templates and other useful resources for stakeholders.

In the next months Vasil Terziev’s team will meet with the mayors of the districts, as well as representatives of all relevant departments and divisions of the Sofia Municipality. The goal is to continue the coordinated work on the two pilot projects and to implement the concept in other schools in Sofia.