QSL No. 11: 1970 - Construction begins on BNR’s “new” building

In 2026, Radio Bulgaria is confirming radio listeners’ reception reports with a new series of 12 QSL cards. Each card features an image highlighting a particular historical event connected with the history of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and its Radio Bulgaria programme, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary. At the beginning of each month, a special feature takes you behind the scenes of these images, revealing some interesting facts about them.

The eleventh QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to the “new” building of the Bulgarian National Radio.

In the late 1960s, a decision was taken to construct a new building to provide more office and technical space for the multi-channel national broadcaster and its numerous employees. The foundation stone of the new home of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) was laid on 17 August 1970.

Located at 4 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., right next to the media organisation’s first purpose-built premises, now known as BNR’s “old building”, the new structure has become an iconic architectural landmark. The inspiration for its distinctive inverted-pyramid design came from the projecting upper floors, or erkers, of traditional Bulgarian Revival-era houses, which overhang the floors below.

The Bulgarian National Radio has changed its home four times

It was also one of the first buildings in Bulgaria to feature an entirely steel structure and plaster walls. The project was designed by renowned architect Georgi Stoilov, then Mayor of Sofia, together with his young colleague Dimitar Andreychin.

The administrative building was completed in record time and officially opened in 1972. Over the years, it housed the Committee for Radio and Television. Following the committee’s dissolution in 1990, it became home to BNR’s administration and journalistic teams, including Radio Bulgaria.

Even 55 years on, BNR’s building continues to attract architectural interest from near and far

To receive a BNR QSL card, you need to send us a reception report specifying the date and language of the programme you listened to (for Radio Bulgaria), or the date, time and frequency of the broadcast (for BNR’s other programmes), together with details about its content.

You can send your reports through whichever channel is most convenient:

– By email: reception.report@bnr.bg

– By post to: Bulgarian National Radio, Desislava Semkovska, 4 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria.

Please remember to include your postal address so that we can send you the card.

We would also like to remind you that BNR continues to confirm reception reports using cards from its previous QSL series. If you would like to receive one of these, simply mention your preference in your report.

Discover the stories behind the other cards in BNR’s new QSL series:

• QSL No. 9: 1948-1960 -Bulgarian National Radio’s music groups

• QSL Card No. 8: First Bulgarian radio manufacturing factory

• QSL Card No. 7: 1940,the TULAN Radio Receiver

• QSL card No. 6: Radio Sofia’s 1939 outside broadcast van

• QSL card No. 5: 1938 -Construction of the old building of the radio begin

• QSL card No. 4: 1935 -Sirak Skitnik, the first director of the BNR

• QSL card No. 3: 1930 –The first union of radio enthusiasts in Bulgaria

• QSL card No. 2: Commemorating Bulgaria’s first radio signal