Suburbanisation in Sofia: changing the spatial structure of a post-communist city
inhabitants), built on previously undeveloped land. The planning concept of
the socialist residential estates was based on the modernistic spatial hierarchy
based on the catchment areas of the respective services. The purpose of this
spatial hierarchy was to maintain effective public service provision and high-
quality living environment. Unfortunately, this concept was only partially
implemented. The lack of funds prevented the completion of many elements
of public service provision, the inner infrastructure and the public gardens in
some of the housing estates, especially those built in the 1980s. The lack of
essential services and employment opportunities led to the deterioration of
the living environment and the transformation of some estates into bedroom
towns. Some of the settlements in the suburban ring, situated in close
proximity to the compact city immediately beyond the housing estates, have
a status of administrative parts of the City of Sofia. Others are independent
settlements within the Sofia Municipality. Most of them have preserved their
traditional rural character, but there are pockets of condominiums and blocks
of flats. As in the compact city, there is a noticeable difference between the
southern and the northern territories of the suburban ring. The southern ones,
situated at the slopes of Vitosha, are significantly more attractive. some of the
settlements and neighbourhoods in this zone have become in the recent years
favourite places for the new rich. The northern parts are considerably less
attractive, because of their nearness to the more unappealing northern parts
of the city and the huge industrial complex of Kremikovtzi, stretching over a
territory of about 1120 hectares.Analyses and interpretations of the population dataThe population of the city centre has decreased by more than 50.000 people,
or nearly 30 %. The introduction of the market economy created a strong need
for new office spaces. In the early 1990s the demand was satisfied mainly
by the transformation of residential properties into offices through minor
reconstruction. However, such premises usually lack the necessary facilities
and infrastructure for office use. By the late 1990s the construction of new
offices in the city centre through demolition of old buildings began.The population of the inner city as a whole has considerably increased by
10.9 %, but the growth is unevenly distributed. The population growth of
the southern areas exceeds 30 %, while the population of the western and
northern parts has slightly declined. The disparity brought about after 1989 a
noticeable disproportion in the operation of the emerging real estate market.
Because of their pleasant environment and high status, some southern
districts have become one of the most attractive and most of the new housing
construction is being concentrated there.^20 By contrast, in the northern inner
city areas there is virtually no new housing construction and the housing
prices are among the lowest in the city. The area northeast of the centre,
although situated in a relatively unattractive part of the city, has experienced
considerable population growth of 12.4 %. Probably, part of the explanation