The mystery of the missing space on the second basement level in the house of D. Kenkov in Varna: Facts and assumtions

Abstract

This publication raises a yet unanswered question that emerged during the work of architects N. Stamatova and M. Hlebarova on the restoration of the most richly ornamented facade in the city of Varna. The house of the entrepreneur Dimitar Kenkov was built according to a project from 1912 by the great Bulgarian architect Nikola Lazarov. In parallel with the restoration of the facade, the design team conducted research on the interior spaces of the building, needed for the technical passport of the building. The 3D model of the building revealed unusual (hidden or illogical) spaces, as well as the absence of expected ones. The research poses a question related to the lack of such a space, expected according to Nikola Lazarov's original project, but not implemented in place or subsequently walled up. It is unclear whether the reasons were difficulties in carrying out excavation work related to archaeology near the antique fortification wall of Odessos (5^th–6^th century) or if it is associated with the change in the socioeconomic reality in Bulgaria after 1944. Further on-site research would be required to discuss this matter in depth. Upon completion of the restoration work on the facade, access to the interior spaces of the building was restricted for specialists.