Градоустройствено планиране и исторически контекст
Urban Planning and the Historical Context

Summary/Abstract: An attempt is made, on the basis of the example of the first planning of the town of Sofia after the Liberation, to substantiate the significance of the historical context for objectifying the historical truth in urban development. It is shown in what way on the face of it remote and indirect facts and information can discard repeated for years on end and appearing to be convincing statements. The author analyses questions such as: was Sofia subject to planning before the Liberation; was there continuity in the planning and the implementation of the ideas infused into it as well as in their authorship; who worked on the planning and what heritage did Prince Dondukov leave to the town; how far did the work on the planning and regulation of Sofia go before the arrival of Prince Alexander of Battenberg; who worked out, drew up and signed the first town-planning scheme of the capital in 1881; how did the changes in the political situation affect the government, the planning and the subjects taking part in those processes. The question about the authorship of the three plans, integrated into one, as well as about their dating is clarified. Light is thrown also upon the material evidence and the manipulations with the plan of 1881. The author notes a number of facts, related to the political situation, which had an impact on the planning and management of the urban development in Sofia during the first (1878–1887) and second (1888–1898) stages — the times of the first cadastral plan and town-planning scheme after the Liberation. The conclusion is drawn that the historical context was of great importance to urban planning and that the explanation of the facts in the history of town-planning is inconceivable without taking into consideration the parameters of the historical context, the political situation, and the personal and subjective factor.

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