Influence of Muesmann’s plan on contemporary urban planning in Sofia City

• GIS and historical analysis reveal planning trends and infrastructure impacts. • Muesmann’s plan shaped Sofia’s radial-circular layout and green space integration. • Urban expansion increased from 3 km 2 (1879) to 209 km 2 (2018). • Built-up areas rose from 68.1% (1990) to 73.9% (2018), reducing green spaces. • Future studies should integrate digital twins and climate models for urban planning. Contemporary urban planning faces many challenges. Cities worldwide need to cope with rapid urbanisation, inequality, environmental pressures, and changing populations. To respond effectively, it is essential to use modern technologies to understand urban dynamics better. Cities must also adopt flexible and innovative strategies that prioritise sustainable development. The study employs a comprehensive approach combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and historical analysis. The goal is to examine how Muesmann’s plan has influenced today’s urban infrastructure and green spaces in Sofia, Bulgaria. The findings show that Muesmann’s ideas, especially about green spaces and zoning, have strongly shaped Sofia’s growth. This can be seen in the city’s radial layout,the railway and airport expansion, the building of the ring road, and the link between parks and urban projects. Based on these findings, the study suggests that Muesmann’s contributions should be recognised. His master plan can still guide modern planning when combined with new tools, such as zoning and long-term vision. These findings are relevant not only to Sofia but also to other contexts, such as post-socialist cities, urban environments shaped by Garden City legacies, and cities where master plans were only partially implemented. They demonstrate how historical ideas can be combined with modern strategies for sustainable growth.