In 1979, state-owned Bulgarian architecture firm Bulgarproject won a competition to design several government department buildings in the capital. One such example is the subject of this post: The Abu Dhabi Municipality and Town planning department.

The building design, combining references to soviet brutalism with arabic motifs, was executed by Dimitar Bogdanov, and opened in 1985. It’s composed of the main complex and the adjoining Harun Al-Rashid Mosque.

The buildings still seem to be in good shape and continue to be used to this day. Their immediate surroundings - swathes of car parking and expanses of unshaded paved surfaces - would definitely benefit from a more pedestrian friendly public realm!