The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis environmental graphics

As part of the revitalization of The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis, the largest Early Christian temple in Bulgaria, a comprehensive environmental graphics system was developed to guide visitors through its rich and layered history. This site, which transitioned from a Roman temple to a majestic Christian basilica, and later to a medieval settlement and cemetery, is now a vibrant visitor center.

Facing the challenge of presenting over a hundred bilingual exhibition materials with diverse content (images, illustrations, texts, and graphics) in varying sizes, the design team prioritized flexibility and clarity. The core objective was to create an accessible and engaging experience for all visitors, from children to adults.

Given the text-heavy nature of the content, typography was a central consideration. For prominent titles, Bebas Neue was chosen. Its sans-serif, narrow characteristics allowed for compact yet impactful headlines, crucial for longer titles. For the main body text, the sans-serif type family Mont was selected. Mont’s clean and geometric proportions ensure excellent legibility, making long paragraphs easy to read throughout the exhibition.

The color palette, inspired by the Basilica’s mosaics, plays a vital role in differentiating the bilingual text (dark blue for Bulgarian, brick red for English) and aiding navigation. Ivory serves as the primary background color, with warm orange used to highlight key elements. Extensive use of illustrations helps set the atmosphere and fill historical gaps, allowing visitors to vividly imagine ancient life in Philippopolis, particularly in the interactive “Discovery Zone” for children. This thoughtful integration of typography, color, and illustration brings the Basilica’s complex story to life.