The building of DOT Sofia Hotel, Komat Restaurant, and the DOT Sofia Art Collection has been nominated for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - the “Mies van der Rohe” Award, the highest distinction for architectural achievement on the Old Continent.
Both deeply locally and universally relevant, innovative yet contextual, DOT Sofia is the result of a conscious effort to revitalize and preserve the multilayered character of the Women’s Market area - the historic heart of Sofia.
The building reflects a global shift towards open, multifunctional architectural solutions, while remaining firmly rooted in the neighbourhood and city.
This ninth edition of the “Mies van der Rohe” Award brings together 410 projects from 40 countries, showcasing the richness and diversity of European architecture.
Nominations come from national architectural bodies (for Bulgaria, the Chamber of Architects), independent experts, and the Award’s Advisory Committee. All selected projects represent significant works completed between May 2023 and April 2025. This year’s jury is chaired by Smiljan Radić (Chile), alongside Carl Bäckstrand (Sweden), Chris Briffa (Malta), Zaiga Gaile (Latvia), Tina Gregorič (Slovenia), Nikolaus Hirsch (Germany/Belgium), and Rosa Rull (Spain).
DOT Sofia’s nomination in this prestigious international competition is not a first - neither for the building itself, which has already been awarded Building of the Year, Best Conceptual Hotel, and Best Green Hotel for 2023, nor for its designers, the architectural studio I/O architects. Founded in 2004, I/O architects has become one of Bulgaria’s most influential architectural practices, earning numerous national awards and 11 previous nominations for the “Mies van der Rohe” Award over the past two decades. Its founders—arch. Vyara Zhelyazkova and arch. Georgi Katov—are valued partners whose forward-looking approach shaped one of the most distinctive buildings not only in Old Sofia, but across the capital.
Thanks to a successful partnership, shared passion, and energy, this nomination is possible today!
About the “Mies van der Rohe” Award
Established in 1987 by the European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, the Award is the most prestigious architectural distinction in Europe. Held every two years, it highlights projects that embody social engagement, sustainable solutions, and innovative contributions to contemporary architectural discourse. Evaluated by an international jury, the Award encourages professional excellence and invites new ways of thinking about the public realm. Since 2001, the prize has been co-organised by the European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe every other year.
