FROM NORMATIVE RIGIDITY TO FLEXIBLE GOVERNANCE –MODELS FOR HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION IN SOFIA

Abstract

This article examines the deficiencies in the regulatory framework for high-rise construction in Sofia. The analysis reveals the existence of a paradox between the excessive normative rigidity and the normative automatism embedded in the Sofia Development and Construction Act (SDCA) and the General Development Plan (GDP). These factors hinder architectural quality and lead to suboptimal urban planning results. The author argues for a transition towards a flexible regulatory model based on the "Principle of Differentiated Intensity." A mechanism is proposed based on objective cumulative criteria (location, scale, complexity) and a "Comparative Urban Planning Analysis" procedure. The model aims to achieve a balance between investment initiative and proven "contributions to the urban environment," offering a sustainable basis for future legislative reform that would transform the administration from a registrar into an active regulator of urban quality.