This presentation outlines a pioneering Bulgarian-Norwegian partnership to transform the Belene and Pleven prisons into "green prisons," based on the Norwegian rehabilitative model. Led by Arrogant Architects, this project moves beyond traditional incarceration to create sustainable, socially-engaged entities.
Our approach is built on three pillars aligned with the conference themes.
Smart Planning: We are using modular, prefabricated construction to create flexible, humane spaces designed for "normalization," education, and vocational training.
Sustainable & Climate-Adaptive Facilities: We are engineering a circular "waste-to-resource" economy. Belene, a flood-prone site, will become an autonomous eco-farm with biogas, PV systems, and climate-adaptive architecture. Pleven will become an urban clean-energy hub, powered by a 1MW solar park and geothermal heat.
Digital Innovation: We are integrating smart Building Management Systems (BMS) for energy efficiency and specifying modern technology for inmate skill-building, including Agri-Tech (precision farming, drones) in Belene and high-tech manufacturing (electronics, renewables) in Pleven.
As the lead architectural partner, our studio is translating this proven philosophy into a practical, replicable blueprint for a future of corrections rooted in sustainability, efficiency, and human dignity.
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Professor Bozhidar Hinkov
Founder & CEO, Arrogant Architects, Bulgaria
Professor Architect Bozhidar Hinkov is a highly respected professional with over two decades of design expertise spanning Bulgaria and international projects. As a Professor at the International Academy of Architecture (IAA) and a co-founder of Arrogant Architects, his career is distinguished by a consistent portfolio of award-winning designs and successful competition entries, underscoring his commitment to integrated design solutions.
At Arrogant Architects, the firm prioritizes an approach that deeply embeds environmental considerations into every phase of a project. This dedication to sustainable methodologies is evident across their diverse body of work, encompassing residential, industrial, hospitality, municipal, and governmental sectors. Their practice consistently balances innovative technological applications with responsible environmental stewardship.
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Nadya Radkovska
Commissioner, Head of International Cooperation and Training of Staff Department, General Directorate “Execution of Sentences”, Bulgaria
With over two decades of service in Bulgaria’s General Directorate ‘Execution of Sentences,’ Ms. Radkovska has dedicated her career to advancing prison governance, staff professionalization, and alignment with international standards. In her current role as Commissioner and Head of International Cooperation and Staff Training, she oversees Bulgaria’s prison training centers, multilateral reform projects, and policy development.
Her influence extends globally: she chaired the Council of Europe’s Penological Co-operation Council (PC-CP), shaping European prison policies, and now serves on the Board of Directors of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA). She has led UNODC missions across Central Asia and Iraq, focusing on counter-radicalization in prisons, and contributes as an EU expert on security cooperation in Asia and the Western Balkans. She was member of the UNICRI-Penal Reform International Green Prisons Research Initiative Expert Working Group.
A multidisciplinary scholar, she holds degrees in Psychology and Counterterrorism and is an associate researcher at Bulgaria’s Military Academy. In 2025, she was elected Chair of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prisons, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration, driving evidence-based policy across member states.
