Arch. Vesela Miryanova: ARTEKS Designs Buildings Where Nature Feels at Home!

07.08.2025

– Arch. Miryanova, what would your ideal home look like—one oriented toward longevity and a healthy life?

– Green and inclusive. To me, the ideal home is one that connects people with nature and with each other. It should facilitate and strengthen these bonds, as they are the main source of energy and joy in our lives.

Have you noticed how our idea of the ideal home has changed in recent years? Perhaps this radical shift was prompted by the pandemic, which made us realize how oppressive isolation can be and how much we need greenery and space.

A home's appearance, size, location, and type can vary greatly depending on personal taste, needs, and budget, but if it meets those two criteria—green and inclusive—it will not only be long-lasting but will also promote a long and fulfilling life for its residents.

– What do you mean by an "inclusive home"? Welcoming?

– In recent years, there's been a gradual return to multi-generational living. This is partly driven by economic reasons. In many places, not just here, young people are leaving home later or returning after studying elsewhere. With increased life expectancy, many older adults need the closeness of younger generations.

If we free ourselves from the cliché that independence—understood as near-isolation—is the ultimate goal, we’ll see the benefits of this cohabitation. Take, for example, the intense stress young parents face—stress that can be eased with support from older family members. There are functional layouts that allow different generations to live under one roof while maintaining some privacy—so there’s both autonomy and opportunities for connection.

Additionally, especially since the pandemic, home offices and online education are no longer exceptions. A home must now accommodate multiple people and respond flexibly to a wide range of demands: home, office, school, play space, party venue, and even a spa.

The job of architects and builders today is to guarantee both the inviolability of personal space and the connections among residents, while ensuring functionality and a sense of harmony for everyone at home. Because a good home is, above all, a place where people interact with ease and joy, share their experiences, and feel secure.

– Let’s return to the first characteristic of the ideal home you mentioned: being green and connected to nature. How can that be achieved?

– There's no universal formula, but the possibilities are many, and growing by the day.

Since ARTEKS was founded over 30 years ago, we have used every opportunity for “green intervention” in both the buildings and their surroundings. From the beginning, we decided that even a single square meter of greenery in a residential building is worth the investment. Even on the most constrained sites, we have created green areas. We have brought greenery up vertically-green facades and rooftops, living green walls inside, courtyard gardens on lower floors, and eco-parks.

Today’s clients, even here in Bulgaria, are no longer impressed by walk-in closets, for example. But do you know what excites them? Seeing a garden on their terrace, bike paths to the park, a green roof—or knowing their windows are made of smart glass that reacts to sunlight, conserves energy, protects fabrics from fading, and much more.

I increasingly hear the question: “How green is this home?”- especially from people who’ have studied or lived in environmentally conscious countries. I have also noticed that IT professionals are particularly interested in systems and technologies that not only ensure a great microclimate but also encourage sustainable living. These days, questions about a home’s sustainability are answered with facts about systems, technologies, and certifications.

I believe that one green building, whose benefits are immediately apparent, can inspire many more. Right now, I am excited to present our “Zephyr & Emerald” project, the first terraced green building in Bulgaria, featuring the Balkans’ first rotating photovoltaic system. When residents step onto their high-floor terraces, they’ll be stepping into their green sanctuary, complete with tree shade.

And of course, at ARTEKS, we’re designing new buildings where nature will truly be at home.

– What does the term "sustainable home" mean to you? What are the key principles of sustainable housing construction, and which trends do you believe will endure?

– There are internationally recognized standards used in building certification. I would like to highlight one often-overlooked aspect: a building’s suitability to its geographical and climatic context and even its historical and cultural environment.

Yes, it’s easier to copy a building design from elsewhere, but such transplanting usually results in structures that clash with their surroundings and work against nature instead of with it.

Resources, orientation, form, and materials must be optimized for the local climate, sunlight, wind, soil, and topography. We can't rely solely on air conditioning and must remember the common sense inherited from past generations before rushing to technological fixes.

Ancient builders didn’t call their techniques “passive cooling systems,” but wind catchers in Central Asia did just that - capturing even the slightest breeze and directing it indoors.

In Bulgaria’s National Revival-era houses in towns like Koprivshtitsa or Tryavna, the first floor is built of stone into the slope, while the upper wooden floor is lighter. Bay windows face south. Every element, from porches to garden walls, is a lesson in intelligent, economical, and healthy integration with nature.

From our own practice, buildings like “Diamond” and “Diamond 2” offer similar insights. We oriented the structures to maximize mountain views and natural light. Their ventilated stone facades use thermal inertia for comfort and energy efficiency. These buildings also introduced the recuperation system to Bulgaria, providing mountain-fresh air to enhance the location’s natural advantages.

Sustainable architecture and responsible construction call for careful observation, respect for local history, and smart application of modern technologies—all to achieve the best for today and the future.

– What advice would you give to people looking to buy a home with the future in mind?

– Firstly, seek quality. There’s no substitute for it, and no “extras” can make up for poor quality. One way to verify it is to look at the builder’s past projects, especially the ones over 10 or 20 years old.

Secondly, assess the area’s prospects. In Sofia, for instance, metro access is a strong indicator. But I would also track where long-established developers are focusing their new projects.

Thirdly, come to ARTEKS and share your full wish list for your home. You might be surprised by how many “fantasies” are feasible with your trust and our capabilities.

– Which of your projects brings you the deepest sense of satisfaction?

– “Ozarenie.” Today I would definitely name this eco-village near “The Bells” monument. It consists of nine single-family homes in rustic and neo-rustic styles, built around a holistic concept of nature-friendly living. It offers what many discerning clients want today: village-like life for the kids as well as quick access to the city; private homes with yards in a safe, quiet environment; lush vegetation and cost-saving technology; and opportunities for enjoyable and meaningful leisure.

Natural, non-toxic materials are everywhere, visible in the wood and stone facades. Car access is located at the complex’s periphery, with underground parking, removing vehicles from sight and mind. Instead, residents can focus on wellness, using the outdoor gym or relaxing in the thermal pool.

“Ozarenie” not just uses local resources—it nurtures them, enriching the area with carefully selected trees, shrubs, and flowers. Everything in the eco-village is designed to maximize greenery. And to save energy, we rely not only on smart orientation and proven practices, but also on modern solutions like the Smart Flower system.

– In such conditions, people might live longer and healthier lives—but how can we extend the lifespan of buildings and reduce their resource use? What innovations in construction could help?

– There are many, but here are a few examples. The type of concrete we use today—Krystol Internal Membrane (KIM)—offers the world’s most effective and durable waterproofing. It eliminates the need for additional water protection. KIM is a hydrophilic crystalline mixture that blocks water penetration, increases durability, and protects structural reinforcement from corrosion.

As for the Smart Flower System, it is a compact solar system shaped like a flower. Like a sunflower, it follows the sun and can generate up to 40% more energy than fixed panels of the same capacity. It’s long-lasting thanks to its self-cleaning and cooling features, and it is installed easily at ground level. Its eye-catching design fits beautifully in any environment.

Window technology has advanced light-years in just a decade. Triple-glazed, solar-control windows now help regulate light and temperature, cut energy costs, and resist hail and impacts. They adapt like ski goggles to changing light, with low solar factor but high light transmission, and superior sound insulation. The latest generation invisibly weaves impressive tech into a crystal-clear appearance.

– Is this how you envision homes 20–30 years from now—with increasingly invisible technologies?

– Yes, I believe that spaceship-inspired visions of future homes now seem almost comical. Advanced technologies will certainly be present—but subtly, even invisibly.

The home will increasingly cater to our senses with natural materials, textures, colours, shapes, sounds, and scents.

In the spirit of biophilic design, the indoor-outdoor boundary will blur. Homes will be seen more as extensions of the natural environment, not escapes from it. Facades will “breathe,” windows will tint in response to sunlight, and greenery will reclaim buildings through living facades, green roofs, terrace gardens, and indoor plant walls.

These homes will be part of ethical buildings—harvesting and purifying rainwater, producing solar energy to share with public spaces, and naturally including waste recycling.

But 20–30 years? That’s far too long! With today’s fast-paced architectural and construction advances, we will see such homes much sooner.