Sofia Municipality has announced a call for tender for the construction of an eco green village in one of Sofia’s suburbs, the village of Mramor within the frameworks of the Mild Home two-year project, financed under the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme, 2007- 2013. The leading partner in this international project is the Association of Chambers of Commerce of Veneto, Italy. Romania, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Serbia are also taking part. The aim is to select projects for the construction of green villages with cheap, module eco houses that consume a minimum of energy. The winner will be able to develop the idea and present it at a tender in which the other six countries will also be taking part. Ultimately, two of the ideas will be implemented. The deadline for submitting the projects to Sofia municipality was February 21. They are currently being evaluated and classified.

The high cost of green construction is one of the obstacles to its development worldwide. That is why the prices are among the basic criteria of evaluation of the ideas for the future eco green village. Minimalism is a guiding philosophy in green villages, as smaller houses require less building materials and less energy and resources for a life of comfort.

The plot allocated for the purpose near Mramor is a little over 9,000 hectares. Module houses and blocks of flats will be built there. According to the assignment half of the buildings must be apartment blocks of two to four apartments, each with a courtyard. The flats in them must be 60 to 90 sq. m. One third of the buildings will be single-family homes covering an area of 140 sq. m. each with a courtyard. The buildings in the Sofia green village must be prefabricated which will be cheaper for the owners.

The houses must be made of natural, recycled or recyclable materials. It is advisable that they should be manufactured close to the construction site – no further than 800 kms. - so as to reduce the carbon footprint of their transportation to Mramor.

The hot water, electricity and heating must come from renewable sources such as sun or wind. The roofs of the buildings can be turned into mini-power stations, as there is a requirement for maximum use of space. Besides solar panels for hot water or photovoltaic panels for electricity, there may also be roof gardens. The houses shouldn’t need too much heating or cooling; so, they must be energy efficient and well insulated. The village will also have systems for collecting and utilizing rain water, as well as its own wastewater treatment plant.

Of course, the future eco village must have lots of green areas – the people living in the single-family houses and apartment blocks will have their own gardens, while public gardens are planned for the spaces around the buildings.

Another novelty is the idea to practically ban motor vehicles inside the village or to only allow the use of electric cars. To get from one place to another inside the village you will have to go on foot or bicycle. For the purpose, there will be a network of bicycle lanes and a bicycle hire system - this looks like being the first cycling residential district in Sofia.

Of course, the eco green village near Mramor should also have the necessary public buildings as well as shops, bars and restaurants. A bank branch office, a hairdresser’s, a laundromat, book stores, sports facilities are also planned.

English version: Milena Daynova