Dohodno Zdanie

About

Dohodno Zdanie (Bulgarian: Доходно здание; literally: "profitable building") is an imposing Neoclassical edifice on Freedom Square in the city centre of Rousse, Bulgaria, built in 1898–1902 to accommodate the local theatre performances. The name originates from the construction's purpose: to provide the school board of trustees with funds by means of the theatre hall, library, casino and shop rents. Today, Dohodno Zdanie is a cultural monument and one of the symbols of Rousse.

A six-member city commission accepted the requirements that the project for the building should be completed in 1896. Those included no less than nine shops, two storeys, a 200 square metre casino, a 300 square metre theatre hall and a 200 square metre library hall. An authoritative jury discussed 15 projects that participated in a contest for the construction of the building, and chose the Voilà une idée project by Austrian architect Peter Paul Brang on 20 February 1897.

An auction on 26 January 1898 determined the construction contractors, Gatyu Tsonev and Petar Atanasov. The construction manager on behalf of the Rousse municipality was Georg Lang (because the architect offered unfavourable conditions), while...