This is also the message of LIQUID GOLD – a conceptual bottle featuring a barcode map of Sofia’s thermal water sources. It is the first original souvenir at Klek Shop @ DOT Sofia, selected through an open call in which we at Komplekt are proud partners.
Where in Sofia can we find mineral water? Do we really know our city and its hidden treasures? These are some of the questions that inspired Vasil Iliev to draw the attention of locals and visitors to the city’s immense, yet largely untapped natural wealth. Multiple studies place Sofia among the richest capitals in the world in terms of mineral water deposits. Across an area of 1,200 sq. km, all types of underground water can be found here, surfacing as natural thermal springs.
His souvenir concept, LIQUID GOLD, was the winner of the souvenir competition by Klek Shop @ DOT Sofia.
Thanks to the area's unique hydrogeological conditions, countless arteries of “liquid gold” run through Sofia today – available to anyone wishing to take a piece of the city's story in a bottle. The LIQUID GOLD bottle becomes a pocket guide: by scanning the QR code, the holder gains access to valuable information about the city’s mineral water and navigation for a short walk to springs in and around Sofia.
Made from sustainable material, the bottle encourages “refills” at any of the listed spring locations. Vasil Iliev’s souvenir LIQUID GOLD was selected after a long process that began during the seventh edition of the MELBA Sofia Design Festival in November 2024. Following an open call with 11 participants, the jury – comprised of Dr. Pancho Georgiev (DOT Sofia), Vesselina Sarieva (DOT Sofia / Sarieva), Adriana Andreeva and Boyana Gyuourova (Studio Komplekt / MELBA), Vyara Zhelyazkova (I/O Architects), and Dima Stefanova (Know-How / Show-How) – shortlisted four semi-finalists. In February 2025, the unanimous winner was announced: Vasil Iliev with his LIQUID GOLD bottle concept.
The jury’s motivation was grounded in the strength, clarity, and universal appeal of the message, as well as the long-term viability of the souvenir.
“This project is, above all, a cause,” says Vasil Iliev of his idea. “The fact that DOT Sofia can stand behind such a cause through the platforms it offers – hotel, restaurant, gallery, and Klek Shop – gives the initiative a sustainable place in the city’s fabric.”
The LIQUID GOLD bottle is available at Klek Shop @ DOT Sofia and Komat Restaurant. It is produced in a limited edition of 50.