Nevena Valcheva

Nevena Valcheva (b. 1989 in Varna/BG) is an architect and urban researcher whose work focuses on spatial transformation, participatory city-making, and sustainable revitalization. Her practice centers on temporary interventions, cultural heritage, and adaptive reuse as tools to reimagine urban environments.

Valcheva holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from UACEG Sofia (2014) and has been developing site-specific projects at the intersection of urban analysis, artistic practice, and strategic planning. Since 2017, she has co-initiated a series of urban interventions that shift public perception, foster social engagement, and activate collective participation—particularly in the historic city center of Varna.

Her work combines field research with design-driven concepts for resilient public space. She has contributed to initiatives on pedestrian accessibility, mobility, and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, including the experimental planning model Re-animatori, which links artistic and urban interventions with long-term resilience strategies.

In 2023, Valcheva joined the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University as an early-career researcher, conducting a study on public perceptions of art in Varna. Her academic work explores the cultural significance of architectural decay. In her publication In Search of the Decay Value of Architecture, she examines the potential of material loss and fragmentary structures in the adaptive reuse of abandoned spaces.

Working across architecture, visual art, and social research, Valcheva continues to explore hybrid approaches to sustainable urbanism and co-creative practice.