The Shiny Sexy: Heterotopias in Studentski Grad District

Through the stories of people living in Studentski Grad District Asya Petkova, Maria Getova and Ana-Maria Molnar map the many faces of the neighborhood, which was planned during the socialist period for newly arrived students.
Does Studentski Grad remain a space of youth or over time is it becoming a home for all generations and starting to resemble any other district in the capital? What are the places residents value and what challenges do they face in their everyday lives?
“The Shiny Sexy” or a random sign from a random shop in Studentski Grad becomes the inspiration for the image of the neighborhood with the youngest population in Sofia. There, where posters of chalga singers peek from every wall, where shop billboards dazzle with a variety of colors and where the smell of döner kebab can be found on every corner near the nightclubs.
But also where kindergartens stand opposite lingerie stores, public laundries sit next to every dormitory, and an ice rink faces the vegetable market. “The Shiny Sexy: Heterotopias in Studentski Grad District” explores the neighborhood through its heterotopias — where overlapping functions intertwine the paths of different people.
The team of architect, poet and photographer leads you on a tour through the district, following an imaginary map of its inhabitants — a walk from palace to palace that reveals unexpected treasures, fantastic characters, and their stories.