In 2025, EUNIC Bulgaria launched Transformative Urbanism – Reconnecting People with the Yantra River. At the heart of the project was a group of young people from Veliko Tarnovo aged between 14 and 25, who joined the “Design by Yantra” workshops in April 2025.

Guided by mentors, architects, and designers, the group developed concepts for a new open-air gallery along the Yantra River — transforming an overlooked riverbank into a vibrant cultural and social space. Their ideas came to life over the summer, when dozens of volunteers and artists prepared and installed the exhibition site.

Everyone participates — everyone helps build, everyone thinks together, and somehow, we fall in love with the place through the process.

Gergana Ivanova architect, The Collective

The project also featured a European open call for artists on the theme “Rivers of the Past.” More than 130 artists from across Europe submitted works exploring the cultural and historical significance of rivers.

Twelve artworks were selected and exhibited along the river, and an award ceremony took place on 16 August to celebrate artistic excellence. The ceremony featured a:

• Jury’s Award: Ivan Peev (France)
• Runner-up Award: Aleksandra Georgieva (Bulgaria)
• People’s Choice Award: Monika Borisova & Krzysztof Filipiuk (Bulgaria & Poland)

The gallery was inaugurated in August as part of the “48 Hours Varusha South” festival, with a rich public programme including guided tours, children’s workshops, community dinners, and documentary screenings about river transformations across Europe.

This was my first time as a mentor — I teach teenagers at the Construction High School in Veliko Tarnovo. It was different. It was interesting, it was really challenging. Wonderful ideas were born. I saw a side of these young people that I rarely get to see in my everyday work.

Martin Lazarov local architect and mentor

By transforming a forgotten riverbank into a shared space for imagination and encounter, Transformative Urbanism showed how creativity can breathe new life into the city — turning the river into a place not only to look at, but a place of belonging once again.

The project was achieved with the support of Veliko Tarnovo Municipality, the Regional Museum of History and Veliko Tarnovo University.