83541 | 23 Sept. 2025 | 14:25
"Our first thought at ARTEX is that Sofia is located in a seismic zone. For the analysis and sizing of structures, we rely on licensed European and American software products, widely used worldwide for the design of high-rise buildings and skyscrapers (Etabs, Plaxis 3D, Robot).
For the foundation of the building, we lay a common foundation slab, guaranteeing greater security against subsidence and/or tilting of the building. The foundation structure is designed to remain elastic during earthquakes in accordance with the strict requirements of EUROCODE. Extreme care is taken in the selection of concrete mix manufacturers. For high-rise buildings, concrete classes C50/60 are used. The reinforcement is supplied by suppliers tested over the years, and the load-bearing capacity indicators are also controlled through laboratory tests at the initiative of ARTEX.
This is what architect Vesela Miryanova, co-founder, chairman of the Board of Directors and majority owner of ARTEX ENGINEERING AD, says.
Despite her numerous commitments, architect Miryanova has never hated Mondays, because meetings with clients charge her with new doses of energy, and the ARTEX team - with confidence. She is convinced that architecture rises only when it becomes more humane, more spiritual and more environmentally friendly. Such a peak can be both a house made of stone and clay, and a skyscraper made of wood.
- Arch. Miryanova, over the years your company has gone through more than one crisis in the sector - from financial downturns to a pandemic. What is your anti-crisis recipe for sustainability?
- Maintaining quality, of course. Maintaining quality, even at the cost of significantly increased expenses. It is a constant factor in our work, and it is why we have a third generation of loyal customers at ARTEX. Yes, it is prudent to save, to wait, to scale down, but that is not our approach. Therefore, the path we have chosen leads us to where we want to be: exceeding expectations.
- The construction sector is entering an era of rapid innovation - from modular and 3D printed construction to high-tech materials. What is your approach to implementing such new methods in Bulgaria and is there any technology that particularly excites you with its potential to transform the construction process?
- High technologies intrigue me primarily with their potential to explore and develop the possibilities of natural materials in architecture and construction.
For example, Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels are lightweight, but resistant to fire and earthquakes. They have up to five times better heat insulation properties compared to steel and concrete, and maintain optimal moisture levels in buildings. The wood itself preserves and imparts the beneficial qualities of a live material. Wool, clay, wood - technologies are rediscovering them for us.
- To what extent do you integrate smart technologies and how do you see the balance between a high-tech home and the comfort of the residents?
- IT specialists mainly welcome smart technologies in their homes and we readily provide them with them. As for the majority of customers, especially those with younger children, I would describe them as waiting, cautious. There is a certain fear that if you use a remote to fill the bathtub or turn on the oven with a dish, for example, comical misunderstandings or situations with serious consequences can occur. About 20-30% of the options are chosen en masse.
- What challenges do you face when implementing green projects and how do you convince people that sustainable solutions bring added value?
- If we give up our excessive love for concrete and if we remember the simple joy of taking care of a garden, we will live in a more natural, more maintained and fresher world.
In order for us as a company to be able to incorporate more and more natural materials into buildings, to provide greenery not only around the building and in shared areas, but also on facades, terraces and roofs, to implement water collection systems, solar energy and countless other sustainable solutions, we need the interest and commitment of our clients and society. The added value is at all levels: we at ARTEX receive professional and personal satisfaction; the residents live in an energy-efficient and healthy home, the city gains a building that cares for its environment and is an infectious example of ecological and socially responsible construction.
- Do you see a future where Sofia gains a modern skyline of high-rise buildings, and how could this happen harmoniously?
- "Harmonious" is not a compliment for a cosmopolitan city. Dynamic, surprising, provocative - yes. The capital of a city is its energy. It pulls both people and companies out of their sleepy self-satisfaction. I cannot imagine a capital without skyscrapers that densify the urban tissue, democratize the demographic composition, save resources, and create opportunities for both leisure and business.
- Building high-rise buildings is a matter of pride, but also a huge challenge, not only because over 75 m in height, the costs jump to over 40%.
- Our first thought at ARTEX is that Sofia is in an earthquake zone. For analysis and sizing of structures, we rely on licensed European and American software products, widely used around the world in the design of building structures of tall buildings and skyscrapers (Etabs, Plaxis 3D, Robot).
For the foundation of the building, we lay a common foundation slab, guaranteeing greater security against subsidence and/or tilting of the building. The foundation structure is designed to remain elastic during earthquakes in accordance with the strict requirements of EUROCODE. Extreme care is taken in the selection of concrete mix manufacturers. For tall buildings, concrete classes C50/60 are used. The reinforcement is supplied by suppliers proven over the years, and the load-bearing capacity indicators are also controlled through laboratory tests at the initiative of ARTEX.
On the other hand, the meeting of tall buildings with public attitudes is never without problems. Many Parisians still dislike the Eiffel Tower, but it remains an emblem of Paris and a dream for millions of people.
- How do you approach the balance between modern architecture and historical surroundings? Can a bold, innovative building coexist with architectural heritage without the city losing its spirit?
- The spirit of a city is not a static legacy of the past. It is created every day precisely from the dialogue between the past and the new. In its projects, ARTEX weaves its knowledge of the past, its respect for it, into the aesthetics of the building, into architectural elements and symbols; even into their names.
- Where do you draw the line between creative ambition and public interest – are you ready to sacrifice an original idea if it does not serve the comfort and happiness of future residents well enough?
- We certainly do not sacrifice the public interest related to our buildings because of the political situation, but how often it is disguised as it! I believe that we will always stand up for ideas that may initially be disturbing, but ultimately stimulate processes not only in architecture and construction, but also in the overall life of our society.
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ARCH. VESELA MIRYANOVA is a co-founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors and majority owner of ARTEX ENGINEERING AD. In order to realize her dream of taking people to their new home, she studied at the Hristo Botev Construction College and the Higher Institute of Architecture and Construction. She specializes in the fields of finance, marketing and social engagement of companies. She is a member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, of the Management Board of the Club of Women Entrepreneurs and Managers, as well as other professional and charitable organizations.
Source: Interview for "Manager" magazine.
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