History and Architecture
The
60th
anniversary of the
set-up and
institutionalisation
of Bulgarian judiciary system was planned to be
celebrated in an outstanding manner in September 1941
with the opening of the new judicial year in the new building
as Palace of Justice in the capital. It was with
particular gratitude and pride that we were watching the Palace of Justice in
Sofia, as we were the generation of men of law and had been working years on end
at the judicial premises before the construction of the modern palaces of
justice. Till 1940 – 50 years after the Liberation of Bulgaria – neither had a
building nor a room for jurisdiction needs been erected.
When finally in 1926 the question of construction of
judiciary premises through the establishment of special Judiciary Premises Fund
raised by complimentary marks by different judicial regions, duties and
surcharges, was raised, many people looked in mistrust the opportunity that such
a major and essential problem could be solved by means of so insufficient
resources.
I was among these unbelievers and dared to publish in the Mir
Gazette editorial: “…the judiciary mission has its own needs as these cannot be
satisfied simply by meager funds and charity…”
Fortunately for the judiciary mission in Bulgaria, we, the
pessimists to the Judiciary Premises Fund, were powerfully proven false. The
fund was set to function. The financing source was so perfectly detected, that
in few years the necessary funding was accumulated thus giving rise to a
large-scale plan for construction of 62 palaces of justice across the whole
territory of Bulgaria. This venture included also the construction of the
Ministry of Justice (later on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs) and was for its
major part implemented by 1944.
Quote of the book "60 years
experiencing the history" by Konstantine Katsarov
Architectural plan of the building
The Palace of Justice is
situated in close proximity to the city centre, although the Palace has not been
initially designed in conformity with the architectural pattern of the
other construction projects in the city centre. By the moment of its
construction, no maters plan has been drafted for Sofia. No initial construction
policy has been set up in the aim to balance private interests and outline a
vision for future development of urban areas.
The Palace of Justice is facing Vitosha Boulevard and is
confined among three narrow streets Alabin, Lavele and Positano.
The
corner of Vitosha Boulevard and Lavele in the beginning of XX century
The architectural design of the Palace of Justice
conforms harmoniously and completely with the other large construction
projects in the city centre. Its rectangular frame of
horizontal outline, even the separate architectural
elements – sciaenid footing,
white limestone tiling, cornice under the last floor
– conform the overall architectural vision of the
newly erected buildings by that time Grand Hotel Balkan –
nowadays known as Sheraton Hotel, Central Department
Store, even the former Party Palace - nowadays the building
of the National Assembly and Bulgarian National Bank.
The outside architectural design speaks for the building
original purpose in a straightforward and accurate manner, the latter being
immanent for popular customs and public awareness
– destitute of all pomposity and
splendour typical for such
buildings in foreign capitals. The monumental dimensions of the building,
rigorous style and specific front staircase with five huge doors under a
magnificent colonnade imply the strict nature of its public purpose.
Outside architectural design of
the Palace of Justice in Sofia does not stand for a particular style. Classical
style ideas have been united in special combination thus allowing the
monumental building to preserve its architectural value over the years. The
building frame is a rectangular spatial solution of unbroken horizontal lines,
solid classical cannonade system at the main facade and uncomplicated lateral
facade. Fourth floor is erected over the ornate cornice of the building instead
of the traditional for other renaissance buildings balustrades.
The architectural vision is further enhanced by the
decorative Roman - Byzantine motifs that decorate
doors, windows and consoles of the central cornice.
The planned and constructed internal disposition of the building, bonds
interdependently its internal and external composition, thus showing aesthetics
and style inseparable in their origin of search, and
logically stemming from the requirements of a plan accommodating the many
services at the building.
The building
composition unites two guiding principles: expedient disposition of premises and
opportune orientation of visitors. These two functional reasons reflect on the
overall architectural composition of the building.
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