The Sculptor Mykhailo Parashchuk and the Artistic Building Decoration of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Burgas. Conservation and Restoration of the Building.
Yulia Krasovska
pp. 11 - 22
 
Title: The Sculptor Mykhailo Parashchuk and the Artistic Building Decoration of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Burgas. Conservation and Restoration of the Building.
Authors: Yulia Krasovska

Abstract: The 1920s were a time of large-scale projects and transformative ideas for the urban redevelopment of Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, and Dobrich. Concepts for a national urban planning program were developed, emphasizing the architect's crucial role. Public buildings such as post offices, railway stations, banks, and educational institutions were constructed. At that time, the role of sculptors was minimal, limited to creating bas-reliefs for completed buildings, which constrained their initiative and forced them to adapt their work to the available architectural space. In 1929, Ukrainian sculptor Prof. Mykhailo Parashchuk was commissioned to design the architectural sculpture and decorative elements of the newly constructed Chamber of Commerce and Stock Exchange in Burgas. He executed the project brilliantly. A century later, the building remains a testament to the grandeur and originality of the design. To preserve its iconic appearance, restoration was recently undertaken using the latest technologies. The author of the article did not participate in the restoration process, as it was carried out before her research. She directly familiarized herself with the details and documents of the restoration with the assistance of the project contractor, Eng. Ivan Bahaturov from "Ecoart Engineering" Ltd.

Keywords: Sculptures by Mykhailo Parashchuk; Chamber of Commerce and Stock Exchange in Burgas; Conservation; Restoration.

Received: 05-08-2024     Accepted: 13-02-2025     Published: 30-06-2025

Citation: Krasovska, Y. (2025). The Sculptor Mykhailo Parashchuk and the Artistic Building Decoration of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Burgas. Conservation and Restoration of the Building. Cultural and Historical Heritage: Preservation, Presentation, Digitalization (KIN Journal), 11(1), ISSN 2367-8038, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 11–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55630/KINJ.2025.110101