Arch. Elitsa Panayotova is Managing Partner at United Master Architects (UMA), one of Bulgaria's leading architectural practices, and brings over 20 years of experience spanning architectural design, urban planning, and real estate development.
Her career began in the mid-1990s with urban and master planning work, including Black Sea and vacation resort projects — giving her early exposure to the intersection of hospitality, lifestyle real estate, and destination development that now defines branded residences as an asset class.
Her portfolio of landmark projects includes Grand Hotel Varna, Sofia Ring Mall, Residential Park Sofia, and Business Park Sofia, spanning office, residential, commercial, and hospitality assets. She was also the founder and first CEO of Sofia Tech Park — the first Science and Technology Park in Bulgaria.
At UMA, her work covers the full lifecycle of investment projects — from urban and master planning through building design, interior design, and project management, with particular expertise in complex, large-scale developments.
Beyond design, Elitsa is an active voice in shaping urban policy and sustainability. She served as an EU consultant for the New European Bauhaus implementation in Bulgaria, and is engaged with SofiaGREEN and the Clean Air Fund, working closely with the private sector, NGOs, and academia to advance sustainable, people-centred cities.
Her current focus includes hospitality and branded residential projects that bring together architecture, placemaking, and long-term investment value — making her a practitioner who understands branded residences from both the design desk and the developer's boardroom.