Largo, Sofia

The Largo is an architectural ensemble of three Socialist Classicism buildings around Independence Square in central Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was designed and built in the 1950s with the intention of becoming the city's new representative centre. Today it is regarded as one of the prime examples of Socialist Classicism architecture in Southeastern Europe, as well as one of the main landmarks of Sofia. The Largo complex consists of three buildings around Independence Square: the Council of Ministers and the TSUM department store on the north side, the National Assembly (former Communist Party (BCP) headquarters, known as the "Party House") with its iconic spire on the east side, the Presidential Administration (former Council of State) and the Balkan Hotel to the south side. Plans for a 16-storey House of Soviets on the east side, resembling the Moscow State University main building, were not carried out following de-Stalinisation.