Anihta by Galya Vasileva is a student architecture project built around narrative, watercolour and an underwater marine archaeology museum near Nessebar in Bulgaria.
The project is interesting because the representation is part of the idea. The watercolours are not just a visual style; they help communicate the difference between memory, recovery, the sea and the imagined architecture.
Project overview
Galya Vasileva developed Anihta as part of her postgraduate thesis after completing a Master’s in Advanced Architectural Design at the University of Strathclyde with distinction.
The name Anihta means deep in the sea, a term connected to fishermen in the Old Town of Nessebar. The proposal imagines a floating structure in the Black Sea that combines a marine archaeology museum with a place of recovery.
What makes the thesis memorable
- The project has a clear setting in the Black Sea rather than an abstract site.
- The watercolour language supports the emotional and spatial narrative.
- The museum brief is combined with a more complex recovery programme.
- The project uses representation to explain atmosphere, not only form.
Portfolio lesson
Experimental presentation can be powerful, but it still needs plain-language framing. A reviewer should understand the site, programme and architectural intent before they get lost in the imagery.
Showcase a student thesis with a strong story
If your project uses unusual representation, Architecture Social can help present the work so the concept is clear as well as visually memorable.
- Explain the site and cultural context early.
- Say why the representation method suits the project.
- Show the programme in simple language.
- Include enough images for the reader to understand the design world.
Architecture Social view
Stephen’s recruiter view is that strong conceptual work needs translation. Practices can appreciate ambition, but they also need to see judgement, clarity and the role you played in shaping the project.
Next step
Explore more student and professional projects, read the architecture portfolio guide, or submit your own project.
If this project has made you rethink your own portfolio or next move, browse current architecture jobs or contact Architecture Social for a recruiter’s view.
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