bg Varna

Kosta Rankov Building

- Shipka Street 4 -
The commercial building, which was erected in 1911, was constructed according to the design of the Bulgarian architect Atanas Nestorov. The sculptural decorations were created by the Bulgarian sculptor . The construction was commissioned by the Bulgarian politician and public figure, Kosta Rankov, who was born in 1865 in the city of . In 1882 he moved to Varna, where he became an active participant in the public, cultural, and economic life of the city. He was the mayor of Varna from June 1894, until April 28, 1895, and in his second period from April 13, 1899, until January 15, 1901. During these two periods, many public buildings were built, and the water and electrification network in the city was expanded. During his rule, the city opened Sunday and evening schools and financed school canteens and orphanages. After 1944, he was exiled to the village of Sokolovo. He died in 1953 in Tolbukhin, nowadays , at the age of 88.
The project of the Bulgarian architect Atanas Nestorov
The building was originally named the Lada Theater and was later renamed the Kosta Rankov Theater. In the theater, drama, and puppet shows were given until 1914. After the end of the , the hall was used for film screenings. In 1930 an interior and exterior renovation of the building took place by a project of the Bulgarian architect . After the coup of , 1944, the cinema was renamed once more, this time it was given the name Republic and later it turned into a shopping center.
Kosta Rankov
The upper part of the symmetrical Neo-Classical building is embellished with two huge garland wreaths and loads of . Underneath the that separates this part from the rest of the building, you'll be able to see a strip of . The three , which are surrounded by garland wreaths and ribbons, all have different facial expressions. At the same height, you can admire the Ionic that crown the round-shaped . Two out of three of the are lavishly decorated with floral ornamentation, while the other one contains no ornamentation at all.
An old postcard shows the building in the distance