Where does mineral water flow in Sofia? Do we truly know the city and its hidden treasures? We explore these questions with Vasil Iliev and his project Liquid Gold—winner of the Klek Shop @ DOT Sofia Souvenir competition. LIQUID GOLD is a conceptual bottle featuring a barcode map of Sofia's thermal springs.
"Mineral water is the souvenir of the capital. The symbol of a mineral spring is even present in Sofia’s coat of arms. For the Klek Shop @ DOT Sofia competition, I decided to design a reusable bottle, LIQUID GOLD, because Sofia’s mineral springs are our liquid gold—just like olive oil is for our southern neighbors," says Vasil Iliev.
Each LIQUID GOLD bottle doubles as a pocket guide. By scanning the QR code, the owner gains access to valuable information about Sofia’s mineral waters, along with navigation for a short walk to the city's springs and surrounding areas. A digital map featuring nearly 40 mineral springs offers both residents and tourists a unique way to experience the city and its natural surroundings. The bottle’s sustainable material encourages refilling with mineral water at each of the listed locations.
→ See the full list of mineral springs HERE
LIQUID GOLD was selected from 13 shortlisted projects in the Klek Shop @ DOT Sofia souvenir competition. The jury included Veselina Sarieva (DOT Sofia and Sarieva Gallery), Adriana Andreeva and Boyana Gyaurova (Komplekt), Dr. Pancho Georgiev (owner of DOT Sofia), Vyara Zhelyazkova (I/O Architects), and Dima Stefanova (Know-How / Show-How).
The competition, which includes a prize fund and the opportunity for serial production, is being held in partnership with Komplekt on the occasion of the seventh edition of Melba: The Sofia Design Festival.
About the Author:
Vasil Iliev is a graphic designer and the art director of Magazine 1, one of the largest culture and lifestyle magazines. His work predominantly explores the relationship between humans and their environment in the "brave new world." Over the years, he has played a key role as Art Director of VICE Magazine Bulgaria and AMICA Magazine. He is also the creative director of Sofia Design Week – Next Identity and the founder of the cultural and advertising platform What if.... Additionally, he has served as a curator and co-producer of numerous exhibitions and competitions.
About the Liquid Gold of Sofia
Sofia’s natural treasures—myth or reality? According to national studies*, our city is among the richest capitals in the world in terms of mineral water resources. Spanning an area of 1,200 square kilometers, Sofia boasts a diverse range of underground waters that surface as natural thermal springs. These include Bankya, Knyazhevo, Gorna Banya, Ovcha Kupel, Sofia-Center, Pancharevo, and Zheleznitsa.
To date, more than 30 mineral deposits with a total of 75 water sources have been studied in Sofia and the surrounding region. Thanks to the unique hydrogeological conditions of the Sofia Valley and the surrounding mountain ranges, this "liquid gold" flows through the city's many natural arteries—readily accessible to anyone who wants to take a piece of history with them in a bottle.
Sources:
https://www.sofia.bg