Cirk, a new book by David Navarro and Martyna Sobecka of Zupagrafika, transforms a distinctive chapter of architecture into a hands-on paper experience. The project focuses on permanent circus arenas built across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and beyond, many of them designed in the mid-20th century with bold, geometric forms.
These buildings were created as year-round venues and often reflected the era's fascination with modernism, engineering, and large-scale public spectacle. Their circular silhouettes, concrete surfaces, and futuristic profiles made them stand out in city landscapes, turning entertainment spaces into architectural landmarks.
The book also includes pop-out paper models of real circus buildings in Bishkek, Chișinău, Dnipro, Moscow, and Tashkent, inviting readers to assemble miniature versions of these striking structures. By combining design history with craft, Cirk offers a fresh way to explore how architecture can preserve cultural memory while inspiring creativity.
As interest grows in interactive publishing and architectural storytelling, projects like this may help new audiences rediscover the value of built heritage through playful, accessible formats.
