Magic Blocks PDF

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ISBN 978-973-0-06942-6
Carte editat / edited by: Zeppelin

Editori / Editors: tefan Ghenciulescu, Constantin Goagea, Kai Vckler
Design graphic / Graphic design: Ctlina Zlotea
Bucureti / Bucharest, 2009
Toate fotografiile aparin lui Drago Lumpan cu excepia celor de la paginile /
All photographs by Drago Lumpan, exceptthose on pages: 7, 23 sus / up, 32 jos / bottom,
43, 69 jos / bottom (tefan Tuchil), 17 (autor necunoscut / unknown author),
90 (tefan Ghenciulescu)
Traduceri / Translations: Magda Teodorescu, Codrua Cruceanu, Roxana Vasile,
Allison Moseley-Plath
Copyrightul imaginilor aparine autorilor i fotografilor / The copyright of the texts and
the images belongs to the authors and the photographers
Proiectul Magic Blocks / magic blocks project
Magic Blocks
Iniiativ i coordonare / Initiative and coordination: Archis Interventions, Zeppelin,
Point 4, Arhitectura
Parteneri / Partners: ATU, Space Syntax Romania, Hackenbroich Architekten, Platforma 9,81
Autori / Authors:
Kai Vckler (Archis Interventions)
tefan Ghenciulescu, Constantin Goagea, Cosmina Goagea (Zeppelin, Arhitectura)
Justin Baroncea (Point4)
Vera Marin (ATU) Scenarii pentru blocurile din perioada socialist n Bucureti /
Esenghiul Abdul, Christian Beros (Space Syntax Romnia) Scenarios for socialist collective housing estates in Bucharest
Marko Sancanin (Platforma 9,81)
Wilfried Hackenbroich (Hackenbroich Architekten)
Autori ai proiectului Upside-down / Authors of the Upside-down project:
Justin Baroncea, Carmen Popescu, Jean Craiu
Colaboratori / Collaborators: Radu Enescu, Adrian Dobre, Jean Craiu, Drago Dragnea,
Alin Toader, Christina Antonelli
Art work & multimedia: Cristian Iordache, Vlad Basalici
Marketing & PR: Raluca Maris, Camelia Ghi, Monica David
Proiect finanat de ctre Institutul Cultural Romn prin Programul Cantemir

ICR nu poate fi considerat responsabil pentru coninutul acestui material
Project financed by The Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Program
The Romanian Cultural Institute can not be hold responsible for the content of this
publication
Proiectul este susinut de ctre:

ERSTE Foundation
Uniunea Arhitecilor din Romnia (prin intermediul fondurilor din taxa pe timbrul de
arhitectur)
Forumul Cultural Austriac
Ambasada Regatului rilor de Jos
The project is supported by:
ERSTE Foundation
The Union of Romanian Architects (through the Architecture Tax Found)
The Austrian Cultural Forum
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Exemplar gratuit / Free copy

Sumar
Contents
Magic blocks. Dezastre, oportuniti, idei
Magic blocks. Disasters, opportunities, ideas
SEE! Archis Interventions n Sud-Estul Europei

SEE! Archis Interventionsin South EasternEurope
De la proiectul totalitar, la piaa imobiliar

From Totalitarian Project to Real Estate
Activare n centru
Activating The Downtown
Negociere. De la non-spaiu public la curi comune

Negociation. Non-Public Space To Common Courts
86 Reabilitarea blocurilor. De la aciuni disparate la un proiect coerent

Apartment Blocks and their Rehabilitation. From unrelated actions to a coherent project
108 Concluzii (1). Principii pentru o strategie de reabilitare

Conclusions (1). Principles for a Rehabilitation Strategy
111 Concluzii (2)

Conclusions (2)
Magic blocks. Dezastre, Magic blocks. Disasters,
oportuniti, idei opportunities, ideas
Un ora mare plin de blocuri de beton. Oame- There is the big city filled with concrete
nii le numesc cutii sau uneori cutii de chibrituri. blocks. People call them boxes, very
Cutii pentru aproape 2 milioane de locuitori. often matchboxes. There are boxes for 2
Majoritatea acestor blocuri pun acum million dwellers.
mai mult ca oricnd problema identitii pe Most of these blocks of flats present
care o ofer: te ntrebi firesc dac sunt sau now more than ever an identity problem:
nu parte a oraului, dac oamenii le simt ca you have to ask yourself if they are or not
ora sau nu. really a part of the city, if people perceive
Un background ca un film mut i alb- them as urban or not.
negru, blocurile i strzile Bucuretiului Looking very much like a background for
comunist au un umor i o anume nostalgie a white and black, mute movie, Bucharests
rezultate din contraste, din urenia brut communist streets and blocks are hu-
i decderea construciilor amestecate morous and nostalgic, which results from
cu operaiile vernaculare specifice mai contrasts, raw ugliness and the decayed
degrab unui sat, din suprapunerea unei buildings jumbled with vernacular opera-
INTRO
arhitecturi serializate i industrializate tions specific rather to a village than a city,

cu decoruri i accesorii personale, din mixing serial and industrialized architec-
mainile scumpe i abandonul celor vechi, tures with personal dcor and accessories,
din mixajul social, neschimbat n prea posh cars along with derelict ones, and
mare proporie de aproape 40 de ani. finally showing the same social mixture
Un ochi atent ar putea extrage cu that has not changed for forty years.
precizie ceva ce e aproape invizibil, i mai At a sharp glance, you could extract that
ales neluat n seam, o anumit frene- thing that is almost invisible, something
zie i energie care stau nluntrul, dar i that you might overlook as well that fren-
n preajma acestor cutii-blocuri magice, zy and vigor dwelling inside and outside
ceva ce seamn cu normalitatea, dar this boxes magic blocks, something quite
i cu dezastrul n aceeai msur. Pe de close to both normalcy and disaster. On
o parte dinamica social, diversitatea, the one hand, there is the social dynamics,
mixajul, densitatea care asigur un bun that diversity, mixture, density ensuring its
mers nainte; pe de alt parte un Babel march forward, while on the other hands,
al comunicrii problemelor i al lipsei de there is this Babel of communication of
reguli. Nu exist o coordonare a micrilor problems, of lack of rules. There seems to
ntre autoriti, locatari sau profesioniti. be no coordination among authorities, ten-
Problema e att de mare nct pare greu s ants, or professionals. Here is a big prob-
vorbeti la unison despre ea, sau s ajungi lem, it is so big that is almost impossible to
la un fel de consens. discuss it in unison, or reach consensus.
6 | MAGIC BLOCKS MAGIC BLOCKS | 7

Prin acest proiect, nu ncercm o analiz We dont try to realize to this project a De la ce principii pornim Where do we start: the principles
exhaustiv a cartierelor de blocuri i nici complete analysis of these structures, nor
nu pretindem c oferim soluii-minune. Ne do we try to offer a set of miracle solu- > Reabilitarea este o problem social, > Rehabilitation is a social as much as an
propunem s stabilim nite caracteristici tions. Our goal is to find some paradigmatic economic, arhitectural i urbanistic, i economic, architectural and urban process,
eseniale, s decupm cteva situaii para- cases and draw up some schemes to be nu doar tehnic. hardly just a technical one.
digmatice i s desenm nite scheme de considered in the future strategies.
luat n calcul pentru strategii viitoare. We tried to look at things on a global level, >Locuirea nu nseamn doar cldiri, ci i > Dwelling is not limited exclusively to
Am ncercat s privim lucrurile de la to understand which are the economical, spaiul aferent acestora. Locuirea colectiv buildings, it also implies the space around
un nivel global, s nelegem care sunt social and cultural resources that may help presupune nu doar construcii i terenuri, them.
resursele economice, sociale i culturale transform these places. Through the three ci folosire, identitate, reguli i negocierea
care pot s ajute la transformarea acestor case studies (solutions for for situations diferitelor interese. > Collective dwelling essentially implies the
locuri. Prin cele trei studii de caz am vrut quite typical for Bucharest) we wanted to negotiation of various interests.
s verificm c aceste principii chiar se pot check that these principles really can apply. >Spaiul public trebuie vzut nu doar ca o
aplica, propunnd rezolvri ale unor situaii We wish they would help us build a categorie legal i administrativ, ci drept > Public space should not be perceived as
reprezentative pentru Bucureti. more comprehensive perspective that un loc al comunitii. a mere legal and administrative category;
Ne-am dori ca aceste idei s ajute la would shift the emphasis from the every community should have a right to
construirea unei perspective mult mai strictly technical rehabilitation to urban Cadrul proiectului i etape public space.
largi n care accentul s se mute de la regeneration. ncercm s oferim idei i principii care
stricta reabilitare tehnic la o regenerare s fie folosite n strategii de reabilitare Project frame and stages
urban. About the project a acestui fond de locuine. Ne-am con- We bring forth ideas and principles which
INTRO
Why socialist apartment block neighbour- centrat asupra Bucuretiului, fiindc este could be used in rehabilitation strategies
Despre proiect hoods? exemplul cel mai reprezentativ, ns that address this housing stock. We focu-
De ce cartierele de blocuri din perioada rezultatele vizeaz att Romnia, ct i sed on Bucharest as the most represen-
socialist? > Because although over 7o % of ntreaga zon cunoscut la un moment tative example; results however can easily
Bucharests population lives in them, they dat drept Europa de est. be extrapolated to cover all of Romania and
> Fiindc, dei peste 70 % dintre are almost absent from public discourse. the former (political) Eastern Europe.
bucureteni locuiesc n ele, sunt aproape > Etapa 1. Start (la nceputul lui 2009): Un
invizibile n discursul public. > Because they are going through a process workshop n Bucureti, definind temele i > Stage 1. Start: Workshop in Bucharest to
of deterioration which touches both techni- ideile principale. define topical themes and ideas
> Fiindc se afl ntr-un proces de dete- cal (building status) and social aspects (in-
riorare tehnic (starea cldirilor) i social creasingly poorer inhabitants in less central > Etapa 2. Produs i prezentare: Pregtirea > Stage 2. Product and presentation: Pre-
(populaie din ce n ce mai srac n cele din areas) and most people seem to ignore this. acestei publicaii, a unei expoziii la Aedes- paration of this publication; exhibition at
afara centrului) i fiindc majoritatea lumii Land n Berlin, a unei expoziii, conferine AedesLand in Berlin; exhibition and public
nu i-a dat nc seama de acest lucru. > Because either owners or authorities i discuii publice la Bucureti i a unei debate in Bucharest, followed by an inte-
subject them to partial and non-coordi- sinteze integrate n expoziia itinerant gration of this material in the Balkanology
> Fiindc aciunile asupra lor (proprietari, nated interventions and as yet there is no Balcanology, Viena. exhibition in Vienna.
autoriti) sunt pariale i necoordonate i global strategy to approach them.
nu exist nc strategii globale. > Etapa 3. Dezvoltare i aplicare: inte- > Stage 3. Development and implemen-
> Because these neighbourhoods are not grarea rezultatelor n programe reale, tation: integration of results in real-life
> Fiindc aceste cartiere nu reprezint doar only problem generators, they also have dezvoltarea de strategii, iniierea unor programmes; strategy development; pilot
probleme, ci i un potenial urban remarcabil. great urban potential. proiecte-pilot. project initiation

SEE! Archis SEE! Archis Interven-
Interventions n Sud- tions in South Eastern
Estul Europei Europe
Archis Interventions, o organizaie non-profit The aim of Archis Interventions, a non-
nfiinat de Archis (cunoscut de aseme- governmental, non-profit offshoot of
nea i prin intermediul revistei Volume), i-a Archis (also known as the publisher of
stabilit ca obiectiv s sprijine oraele prin idei Volume magazine), is to support cities by
i concepte menite s revitalizeze spaiul supplying ideas and concepts that will help
public i s restabileasc ncrederea n dia- to revitalize the public space and renew
logul public. n acest proces partenerii locali faith in public dialogue. Local partners play
au rolul hotrtor, ei fiind cei care dau impul- the main roles in the process, since they
sul necesar interveniei asupra dezvoltrii are the ones requesting intervention in the
oraului lor. Archis Interventions susine development of their city. Archis Interven- Reeaua Archis SEE n 2008 (Swiss Architecture Museum expoziia Balkanology. Arhitectur nou i fenomene urbane n
proiectele iniiate independent sau de ctre tions supports projects coordinated by Europa de sud-est) The Archis SEE network in 2008 (Swiss Architecture Museum, exhibition Balkanology. New Architecture
and Urban Phenomens in South Eastern Europe)
organizaii de arhiteci, designeri, sociologi, independent initiatives and organizations
artiti etc, care se preocup de problemele made up of architects, planners, sociolo- cu sprijinul unui grup de iniiativ libanez. other half of this early phase involved Dutch
de dezvoltare urban i intenioneaz s gists, artists, and others who deal with the Aceste dou eforturi de cooperare au dus members of Archis supporting a Lebanese
propun i s pun n practic soluii pozitive problems of urban development and want ncepnd cu 2005 la un prim set de proiecte, initiative in their intervention in Beirut; these
INTRO
n oraele n care locuiesc. to be a positive influence on their cities. punnd astfel piatra de temelie pentru o two cooperative efforts led to the first proj-
Activitile organizaiei Archis Interven- Archis Interventions activities stem from colaborare pe termen lung. ects being developed in 2005, which laid the
tions au evoluat din seria de RSVP Events, the RSVP Events that Archis has been pro- Pornind de aici activitile organizaiei foundation for a long-term cooperation.
pe care Archis a desfurat-o la nivel ducing around the world since 2004. For the Archis Interventions s-au extins n Eu- With this background, Archis Interven-
mondial ncepnd cu 2004. Pentru revista international, English-language magazine ropa de Sud-Est. n colaborare cu Srdjan tions began broadening activities throughout
internaional n limba englez Archis/Vol- Archis/Volume, it was a step toward activat- Jovanovi Weiss, autorul a nceput n 2008 South Eastern Europe. In collaboration with
ume acest pas a nsemnat activarea reelei ing its network of readers and subscribers; dezvoltarea unei reele de grupuri inde- Srdjan Jovanovi Weiss, the author started
de cititori i abonai, iniierea n cadrul aces- Volume began publishing dialogues con- pendente de iniiativ urban, mai nti n building a network of independent urban
teia a unui dialog la nivel local care s permit ducted with members of this network in statele din fosta Iugoslavie i n Albania, initiatives and organizations in 2008, begin-
schimbul de idei. Au avut loc ntlniri inspirate, their various localities, in order to achieve an aciune extins ncepnd cu 2009 n Bulgaria ning in Albania and the countries that used
s-au dezbtut teme i probleme locale, s-au exchange of ideas. These meetings were full i Romnia. Aceste ri aveau n comun to comprise Yugoslavia, and then expanding
creat noi reele. Aa s-a nscut idea Archis of inspiration: a theme was discussed, local depirea unei etape de transformare, to Bulgaria and Romania in 2009. One thing
Interventions - concretizat prin nfiinarea problems were examined, and new net- trecerea de la economia centralizat la cea that all of these countries had in common
unei filiale locale (Archis Interventions/ works were created. This led to the idea for de pia ulterior prbuirii sistemelor socia was that, after the collapse of the social-
Pritina) de ctre autor mpreun cu colegi din Archis Interventions, which began with the liste, n contextul globalizrii economice i al ist systems, they had undergone a phase
Kosovo. Un alt rezultat palpabil al primei faze founding of a local branch in Kosovo (Archis efectelor mondiale ale capitalului financiar. in which they transformed from planned
fost sprijinul acordat de ctre membrii olan- Interventions/Prishtina), carried out by the 2. Informaii se gsesc la www.archis.org. Informaii
economies to market economies. This phase
dezi unui grup de iniiatv libanez din Beirut, author and his Kosovan colleagues. The referitoare la proiectul din Pritina se gsesc n: Kai Vckler, 2. Documented on www.archis.org. For more on the project
Prishtina is Everywhere. Turbo Urbanism: the Aftermath of a in Prishtina, see: Kai Vckler, Prishtina is Everywhere. Turbo
1. RSVP: Rpondez sil vous plat V rugm s confirmai. 1. RSVP: Rpondez sil vous plat Um Antwort wird Crisis. Archis: Amsterdam, 2008. Urbanism: the Aftermath of a Crisis, Amsterdam: Archis, 2008.
Informaiile referitoare la seria de evenimente Archis RSVP gebeten. The Archis RSVP Events are documented on the 3. A se vedea www.seenetwork.org. Archis Interventions n 3. See www.seenetwork.org. Archis Interventions in South
Events sunt arhivate n pagina de web www.archis.org web site www.archis.org. Europa de sud est este sprijinit de ctre ERSTE Foundation. Eastern Europe is supported by ERSTE Foundation.

Evident, efectele la nivelul vieii cotidiene took place under conditions dictated by a (fapt realizat n cazul Sloveniei, Bulgariei i as Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Romania eventually
i al dezvoltrii urbane au fost dramatice. globalized economy and the financial capital Romniei). Principiul central al acordurilor de did. At the core of the integration agreements
Paradigma acestor schimbri social-politice coming from around the world. Of course, integrare este libera circulaie, mobilitatea is the unrestrained mobility of people, goods,
s-a impus alturi de procesul de democra- it had a dramatic effect on everyday life and nelimitat a oamenilor, mrfurilor, capitalului capital, and servicesa freedom that has led
tizare, de privatizare rapid i de liberalizare development in the cities. Besides democra- i serviciilor, ceea ce a dus la noi raporturi ntre to completely new conditions for mobility and
a pieei. Acest lucru a avut drept urmare tization, the paradigm for this socio-political conceptul de mobilitate i cel de dezvoltare urban development. The effects of this have
incapacitatea de autoreglementare a statu- transformation involved the speediest pos- urban, ale cror efecte nu sunt nc suficient not been sufficiently analyzed: for instance,
lui naional. n special ncrederea excesiv n sible privatization and liberalization of the analizate (efectul migrrii de mari proporii there are high numbers of migrant workers
puterea pieei a dus la ignorarea unor factori market. In most cases, the result was a weak- a forei de munc n unele ri pn la o up to one-third of the population in some
diferii de cei economici, dar care sunt la fel ening of the states ability to regulate and treime din populaie investete n locuine countrieswho invest in houses for their
de importani pentru o comunitate eficient. oversee the market. In particular, an overly pentru familie, dar nu locuiete n ele). families, but do not themselves live there.
Aceasta a dus la un turbo-urbanism: o confident belief in market forces ignored Odat cu transformarea post-socialist Along with the post-socialist transforma-
de-formalizare a spaiului urban ca urmare the non-economic factors that are just as a avut loc i o modificare radical a formelor tion has come a profound change in govern-
a dezlnuirii capitalismului de tip neoliberal, important to a functioning community. This de guvernmnt i implicit a planificrii ment and thus, in planning. No longer is the
cu toate manifestrile adiacente. Oraele led to turbo urbanism, the de-formalization centralizate. Nu mai exist statul ierarhic, hierarchical, centralist state at the center of
au fost necate de boom-ul construciilor of urban space that results from unfettered centralizat, care s formeze nucleul politic policy-making, guiding development with
noi i de cartierele rezideniale construite n neo-liberal capitalism and all of its concomi- menit s conduc dezvoltarea n direcia comprehensive planning. Instead, when it
cadrul unor proiecte ndoielnice de investiii tant phenomena. Cities were overwhelmed dat de o planificare general central. Acest comes to space and land, government action
n centrele vechi ale oraelor sau de ctre by new construction booms, ranging from lucru a fost nlocuit cu aciuni difereniate ale can be distinguished at a variety of different
nenumrai proprietari privai la periferia questionable investment projects in down- statului pe diferite niveluri, iar n procesele levels. Increasing numbers of non-govern-
INTRO
oraelor pe terenuri cu un titlu de proprietate town areas to the large quantity of informal, decizionale i de implementare sunt implicai ment participants are active in decision-
neclar. Caracteristic este slaba capacitate private housing developments, generally on din ce n ce mai mult ali actani dect statul. making and implementation processes.
de control a statului asupra acestor pro- the urban periphery. Characteristically, these Buna guvernare (good governance) Good governance is defined as the sum of
cese, uneori dus pn la forma extrem de booms occurred with weak city oversight, or este un concept care vrea s nsemne suma all possible ways in which public and private
renunare total la aplicarea reglementrilor. even an outright lack of regulation. Even in tuturor cilor posibile prin care instituiile institutions and organizations regulate their
Ca i n alte ri est-europene (cu excepia the case of collective buildings, community i organizaiile oficiale i cele private i common business through a continual pro-
Germaniei estice), construciile colective au property was privatizedsomething that regleaz interesele i i soluioneaz cess, in order to balance diverging interests
fost privatizate, iar proprietarii de locuine was happening almost everywhere else in problemele pentru a ajunge la reconciliere and allow for cooperation. In this structure,
au fost lsai n cea mai mare parte s se Eastern Europeand the new owners were i cooperare. n acest ansamblu un factor however, power relations have an impact,
descurce pe cont propriu. Statul i-a abando- mostly left to fend for themselves. Govern- de luat n seam sunt raporturile de putere and they have to be taken into consideration,
nat rapid responsabilitile sale sociale. Peste ments quickly unburdened themselves of dintre actani mai ales n cazul implicrii especially when it comes to including busi-
aceast tendin s-au suprapus eforturile their social responsibilities. On top of this actanilor din economie n parteneriate ness people from public-private partner-
de integrare ale Uniunii Europene, precum i development came the EU integration at- public-private care de multe ori se sustrag ships, as they often withdraw from, or seek
perspectiva de acceptare ca membru al UE tempts, with some countries aiming to join, controalelor oficiale. to avoid, government or public control.
Ca membri ai unor discipline care As members of disciplines that design
4. Aici se adaug i efectele rzboaielor din anii 1990, soldate 4. In addition, there were the wars in the 1990s that came
cu dizolvarea Iugoslaviei i cu conflicte politice, dintre care with the break-up of Yugoslavia; these unleashed political
organizeaz spaiul, arhitecii i urbanitii space, architects, and urban planners have
unele nesoluionate nici n prezent, sau efectele prbuirii conflicts, some of which remain unresolved to this day. mai au perspective a fi luai n seam doar only one perspective when they are regarded
statului albanez ca urmare a colapsului jocurilor piramidale Another example is the almost total collapse of Albania dac sunt privii ca fcnd parte din aceast as part of this integrative policy, or gover-
din anul 1997. n contextul unui control deficitar al statului, after the implosion of the pyramid schemes in 1997; the
politic ampl a bunei guvernri. n aceast nance. They develop new planning strategies
acestea au dus la o catastrof financiar devastatoare mai lack of government oversight had catastrophic financial
ales pentru investitorii mici, au declanat emigrarea n mase, consequences, mostly for small investors; it also led to accepiune, ei produc noi strategii de plani- that belong in a variety of social contexts and
i au fcut necesar intervenia trupelor internaionale. mass emigration. ficare care rspund unor contexte sociale at the same time, they prepare new contexts

diferite i care, n acelai timp, pregtesc for those active in society. In this sense, serie de probleme centrale ale dezvoltrii by difficulties with the unclear allocation of
contexte noi pentru prile cele mai active planning has to be communicative, because Bucuretiului aprute ca urmare a privatizrii responsibility when it came to renovation,
ale societii. n acest sens planificarea participants can only be mobilized through vechilor cldiri colective: problema admi or with other owners, who often did not
trebuie s fie uor de comunicat, dat fiind structured dialogue. In the new governance nistrrii proprietii comune de ctre propri- understand the necessity of maintaining
c actanii pot fi mobilizai doar prin dia- structure, planning is advocacy planning, etarii locuinelor, neclaritatea n ce privete not only their own property, but also the
log. n noua structur a bunei guvernri, which represents the interests of those responsabilitile n procesul de reabilitare a building itself, in order to prevent the entire
procesele de proiectare sunt realizate dup excluded from the planning and decision- construciilor i lipsa de nelegere a pro- property from losing its value. In addition,
modelul advocacy planning, prin care sunt making processes, and uses empowerment prietarilor fa de necesitatea de a ntreine the situation was strongly influenced by
reprezentate i interesele celor exclui din strategies in order to facilitate or influence n bune condiii nu doar propria locuin, ci overriding factors, such as traffic and roads,
procesele de luare a deciziilor i utilizeaz development. In the conflicted bundle of cldirea n ansamblul ei, pentru a-i conserva or the buildings location in the city, which
strategii de tip empowerment, pentru a internationally formulated politics (which im- valoarea. Se adaug i o puternic influen affected the market value of the prop-
facilita sau influena dezvoltarea. n ansam- pacts the structure of local administrations), exercitat de factori de ordin superior asupra erty, which in turn affected owners ability
blul politicilor formulate la nivel internaional, a globalized market, and a civil society (por- preului pe pia al locuinelor, cum ar fi ac- to obtain loans for renovation projects. In
dublate de nenumrate conflicte care se las tions of which are trans-nationalized, thanks cesul la mijloacele de transport sau situarea the same vein, property owners in a single
simite i la nivelul administraiilor locale, i to high emigration numbers), advocacy n diverse zone ale oraului. De pre depind i building, who might have different interests,
n contextul dezvoltrii globale a pieei i a planning can develop new forms of coopera- posibilele credite care ar trebui contractate n do not have good guidelines for negotiating
societii civile (n mare parte transnaional, tive and communicative planning, which can vederea reabilitrii. Modalitile de negociere with each other. Additionally, the question
dat fiind fenomenul de migraie masiv) provide special support to the mostly weak ntre proprietarii aceluiai imobil sunt n cea of who is responsible for the public space
modelul advocacy planning poate susine forces of the civil sector. Thus, positioning mai mare parte lipsite de eficien atunci owned by the city remains unsettled. And
noi forme de cooperare i comunicare n pro- within this structure is of crucial significance, cnd acetia au interese diferite. Dincolo de last, but not least, almost nobody is familiar
INTRO
cesul de proiectare, prin care sunt favorizate because if an intervention is to succeed, then asta responsabilitatea n ce privete spaiul with the different possible ways of maintain-
mai ales capacitile sociale deficitare it has to develop relationships with both the public, care este n proprietatea statului, ing a building of good architectural design.
ale societii civile. Poziionarea n acest government institutions and the civil sector. rmne o problem nerezolvat. i nu n ul- The first step was to systemize this tangle of
ansamblu este hotrtoare. O intervenie The independent, non-governmental, non- timul rnd, opiunile n ce privete configura- problems and make them understandable,
care se vrea de succes trebuie s asigure commercial initiatives formed by profes- rea spaiului arhitectural sunt puin studiate. and then to develop some possible solu-
dezvoltarea relaiilor cu ambele pri, att sionals play an important part here. Profes- Sistematizarea i nelegerea acestui cumul tions. However, it is also clear that the pub-
cu instituiile statului, ct i cu societatea sionals not only bring their expertise to the de probleme, precum i elaborarea unor licespecially those directly affectedis not
civil. Rolul decisiv l au grupurile de iniiativ table, but they frequently also play the roles posibile soluii a fost primul pas fcut. Nu se yet sufficiently aware of the further problems
non-guvernamentale i non-profit formate of both initiator and mediator. poate ignora faptul c nu exist, mai ales de that will develop if the current problems are
din profesioniti care i pun la dispoziie partea celor afectai, o contiin public n ce neglected. Therefore, publications, exhibi-
cunostinele de specialitate, i crora le Archis Interventions in Bucharest privete efectele pe termen lung ale neglijrii tions, public discussions, and local activity
revin responsabiliti de iniiatori i uneori de Here is where the Archis Interventions proj- aspectelor menionate mai sus. Prin urmare are an important part of a publically effective
mediatori. ect in Bucharest begins. In 2009 a variety publicaiile, expoziiile, discuiile publice i intervention, so that more attention is gained
of initiatives and organizations started aciunile locale sunt o parte important a unei from responsible decision-makers in gov-
Archis Interventions la Bucureti discussing a central problem in Bucharests intervenii de succes; ele atrag atenia att ernment, from private property owners, and
Pe aceast direcie se nscrie i proiectul development: privatization of the old col- actanilor cu putere de decizie din politic from those who represent their interests.
Archis Interventions de la Bucureti. n lective buildings had resulted in admin- i administraie, ct i proprietarilor privai This is just the start of an exploration of fu-
2009 a fost pus n discuie de ctre di- istration problems for commonly held i organizaiilor care le reprezint intere- ture prospects for a section of the city whose
verse organizaii i grupuri de iniiativ o property. Property owners were plagued sele. Acesta este nceputul discuiei despre size alone makes it impossible to conceive
5. Vezi Nikolaus Kuhnert, Anh-Linh Ngo, Governance, n: 5. See Nikolaus Kuhnert, Anh-Linh Ngo, Governance, in: perspectivele de viitor ale unei pri uriae din of the city without it, as well as for the people
archplus 173/Mai 2005. archplus 173, May 2005. ora, dar i ale oamenilor care locuiesc aici. who live here.

overview
De la proiectul
totalitar, la piaa
imobiliar
From Totalitarian
Project to Real Estate
Evoluii sociale, economice i spaiale ale Socialist Housing Estates and their
ansamblurilor de locuine din perioada Social, Economic, and Spatial Evolution
socialist
Lets frame the issue: until recently discussi-
S punem problema. Dac pn de ons about socialist apartment blocks tackled
curnd despre blocurile socialiste se political, social, and identity aspects; these
discuta n termeni politici, identitari, so- blocks were the paramount counter-model
ciali etc., i ca despre un contramodel de of normal dwelling. However the current
locuire, n ultima vreme, odat cu criza i economic crisis and the launch of a national
mai ales odat cu nceperea programelor rehabilitation programme shifted the focus of
naionale de reabilitare, se vorbete par- the discourse, which now addresses almost
c numai n termeni economici i tehnici. exclusively economic and technical aspects.
Vom ncerca s vedem ce se ascunde n This is an attempt to see what hides behind
spatele noiunii globale de bloc comu- the generic term communist block. We will
nist: categorii urbane i arhitecturale, look into urban and architectural categories
dar i aspecte sociale i economice ale as well as into social and economic aspects
situaiei iniiale i ale evoluiei n ultimii pertaining both to the initial situation and its
20 de ani. Vom ncerca s determinm evolution during the past twenty years. We Blocuri peste tot, ns nu chiar aceleai blocuri. n spatele Blocks of flats everywhere, but not quite the same blocks
imaginii omogene se afl o suprapunere de uriae diferene of flats. Behind the stereotypical image of homogenity lies
i un set de caracteristici eseniale i, n will try to establish a set of essential charac- urbane, arhitecturale, sociale i economice. a superposition of huge urban, architectural, social and
consecin, de prioriti de aciune. teristics which can prompt an action plan. economic differences
16 | MAGIC BLOCKS
Modul de locuire ca efect A totalitarian project fra-
al unui proiect totalitar med a new a way of living
E foarte clar pentru oricine n Romnia: la Everyone in Romania is clear about this:
ora, stai ntr-o cas veche sau ntr-un bloc when it comes to cities, you either live in
vechi (deci, ntr-o construcie antebelic) an old house or apartment block (that is to
sau, dimpotriv, ntr-o vil nou sau un say one built before World War Two), or, on
bloc nou, deci ntr-o investiie proprie sau o the contrary, in a new villa or an apartment
aa-numit dezvoltare rezidenial post- block, that is to say in a post-1989 building,
1989; la mijloc, ntre ele, blocurile comu- be it an individual investment project or a real
niste, ntre 1947 i 1989, adpostind astzi estate development. In between them stand
majoritatea populaiei urbane i avnd o the communist blocks built from 1947 until
imagine att de specific, nct au devenit 1989 to house the vast majority of the urban
unul dintre cele mai puternice simboluri ale population. So telling is their perceived image
regimului totalitar. that they have become one of the totalitarian
n ciuda unor asemnri cu marile car- regimes most powerful symbols.
tiere de locuine sociale din vestul Euro- Despite certain similarities with big social
OVERVIEW
pei, aceste construcii au avut o origine i housing developments in Western Europe,

un caracter foarte diferite: ele nu au fost their origins and character differ radically.
destinate unor categorii defavorizate, ci Firstly, they were not meant for economically
au reprezentat singurul tip de locuin disadvantaged people. They represented
nou. Aceleai locuine pentru toi, ntr-un quite simply the only type of new housing.
sistem colectivist impus era regula, i nu Similar dwellings for all in a given a collective
jocul dintre interese individuale i reguli system was the norm; the interplay between
specifice unei societi normale. Chiar dac individual interests and widely applicable
unele dintre ele erau n proprietate privat rules practiced in other societies was out of
(printr-un sistem complicat de credite i discussion. Even if some units were privately
de atribuiri dirijate), ntotdeauna statul a owned through a complicated credit system
reprezentat singurul proiectant, investitor, and some sort of channeled distribution,
constructor i administrator. Dezvoltarea the state was the sole designer, investor,
urban i operaiile arhitecturale erau parte builder, and manager. Urban planning and
a unui sistem de planificare general, nu architectural developments were part of a
doar economic, ci i cu scopul de a crea o general planning system, one that addressed
nou societate. De aceea, ele au fost locuite economy as much as the creation of a new
de toat lumea (cu excepia nomenclatu- society. Hence such blocks were inhabited by
rii), de la muncitori la intelectuali i poliiti. everybody(except the establishment), from
Un amestec de categorii sociale visat de workers to intellectuals or policemen. The Toi la fel (imagine de la nceputul anilor 90). Mixitatea Everybody the same ( image from the early 1990s). The
social datorat unei planificri ideologiei i lipsei de social mix, due to ideological planning and the lack of
pionierii modernitii i realizat aici doar din modernist social-mix dream thus came true alternative ncepe s dispar n condiiile privatizrii i alternatives tends to disappear as privatization and the free
cauza lipsei de alternative. only in the absence of any other alternative. explozei pieei libere. market exploded.

Dincolo de identitatea Beyond global identity -
global, o suprapunere a superposition of diffe-
de diferene rences
i totui, aa cum tim cu toii cnd And yet as we all know, when the general
trecem de la discursul general despre discourse moves from the generic level of
blocuri la unul particularizat despre blocul blocks to that of the block in which we live,
fiecruia, ele nu sunt deloc la fel. Dincolo no two blocks are quite the same. The above
de cele enunate mai sus, locuirea din discussion apart, dwelling during the socialist
perioada socialist nu a fost uniform. era was far from uniform. A superposition
O suprapunere de diferene determin of differences results in features that vary
caracteristice extrem de diferite. Exist greatly. Architectural and urban solutions vary
mai multe tipuri de rezolvri arhitecturale according to the period when they were put
i urbane, date de perioada n care au fost into practice, to height regulations, building
construite, de regimul de nlime, de sis- systems, density. On the other hand, despite
temul constructiv, de densitate. Localiza- sometimes identical architectural ensemble
rea n centru (vom reveni asupra acestei solutions, location be it central (massi-
OVERVIEW
specificiti romneti) sau la periferie, ve operations in the center are typical for
ntr-o zon foarte accesibil sau, dimpo- totalitarian planning in Romania) or suburban,
triv, izolat determin diferene uriae readily accessible or rather isolated - yields
de valoare efectiv i percepie ntre huge differences in value as well as in per-
ansambluri altfel identice ca rezolvare. ception. How old a building is constitutes
Vrsta lor declaneaz discrepane enor- another major differentiating factor when it
me ale valorii economice (acum c ele se comes to market value, now that such blocks
afl de 20 de ani pe piaa liber): gradul de have been on the market for nearly twenty
uzur al construciei i al echipamentelor, years; the wear and tear of buildings and their
gradul de rezisten la cutremure (din ce equipment is under scrutiny as is earthquake
n ce mai bun pe msur ce sunt mai noi), resistance (the newer the building the better),
suprafaa apartamentelor etc. the size of apartments, etc.
O privire orict de sumar asupra hrii A brief look at a city map will instantly reveal
oraului ne d imediat cteva categorii. a number of block categories. For instance
Avem de exemplu (puine) locuine din there are few housing ensembles that date
perioada stalinist sau plombe n centru, back to the Stalinist period; similarly there are
a cror scar, situaie urban i sisteme only a few central inserts whose scale, urban
constructive le apropie mai degrab de context and building solutions are closer to Tipologii de cartiere
exemplele antebelice. those dating from the interwar period. de blocuri din perioada
Asemntor majoritii oraelor din estul Like most other European cities, Bucharest socialist (exemple).
Examples of socialist
Europei, avem mari cartiere funciona- has its fair share of immense functionalist neighborhood typologies
liste, uneori de 200.000 - 400.000 de neighbourhoods which can count as many as in the city.
20 | MAGIC BLOCKS
OVERVIEW
Balta Alb: extinderea oraului i visul funcionalist Balta Alb: extending the city through the functionalist dream 2.tefan cel Mare i Calea Moilor: n spatele cortinelor de beton se ascunde oraul vechi
2. tefan cel Mare and Calea Moilor: behind the concrete curtains lies then old city
locuitori (Balta Alb, Drumul Taberei etc.), 200,000 or even 400,000 inhabitants (Balta 4. Militari: la marginea oraului, densitate, fronturi uniforme i curi interioare
construite n anii 60 i 70, dup prin- Alb, Drumul Taberei); these were built in the 4. Militari neighborhood: outside the center, dense, uniform slabs and interiour courts
cipiile urbanismului liber mari bare i 60s and 70s based on the principles of free
turnuri plutind n verdea (1). urban planning, whereby slabs and towers
Radicalizarea i personalizarea regi- float amid vast expanses of greenery (1).
mului n epoca Ceauescu au determinat The regimes radicalization during
obsesia modernizrii centrului. Ideea Ceauescus era when the leader took charge
unui ora nou pentru oamenii noi a of everything also entailed an obsessive
dus la distrugeri fr precedent. nce- need to ,modernise the city centre. The idea
pute prin demolarea de-a lungul unor of a new city for new people led to unpre-
axe principale (2), operaiile au culminat cedented demolitions. In the beginning both
cu delirantul proiect al unei axe de 5 km, sides of a couple of main thoroughfares were
avnd ntr-un capt imensul palat al demolished (2); the process culminated in the
dictatorului (3). Prbuirea regimului n delirious project of a five kilometer long axis
decembrie 89 a oprit nebunia, lsnd un with the dictators vast palace at one end (3).
centru vechi brzdat de cortine de beton The regimes collapse in December 89 put
i uriae spaii goale. ns, aa cum vom an end to this madness, leaving behind an old
vedea, poziia ultracentral a dus la o city centre jagged by concrete curtains and
cretere a valorii comerciale. De altfel, huge expanses of wasteland. Prime location
i construciile sunt foarte diferite: de however boosted commercial value.

la preluarea modelelor cu prefabricare Buildings differ considerably, ranging i arhitecturale majore implic nevoi i and priorities which range from bridging
grea aplicate i n afara centrului i pn from heavily prefabricated ones and which prioriti diferite de la rezolvarea rup- fractures in the historical old centre to de-
la apartamentele foarte mari, n blocuri sprawled outside the city centre, to the rather turilor n centrul istoric la politici urbane veloping urban policies for the citys biggest
pompoase i (relativ) mai bine construite. pompous style of (better built) blocks with pentru marile cartiere. Orice strategie de neighbourhoods. Every single intervention
Nu numai centrul oraului, ci i noile spacious apartments. The logic of uniform, intervenie ar trebui s califice categorii strategy should define the main categories it
extinderi din anii 1970 i 1980 au adoptat uninterrupted slabs and inner courtyards was principale (prin suprapunerea criteriilor addresses (by superposing urban planning,
logica unor fronturi continue i uniforme adopted not only in the city centre but also in urbanistice, arhitecturale, tehnice, sociale architectural, technical, social and economic
i a incintelor. n acest caz, reprezenta- the new neighbourhoods of the 1970s and i economice) i programe de aciune n criteria) and by setting up action plans for all
rea regimului nu a jucat nici un rol doar 1980s which extended the city limits. cadrul acestor categorii. of these categories.
economia i standardizarea duse pn In the latter case the representational
la absurd, uneori pe arii uriae (cum ar fi value for the regime was no longer an issue;
cartierul Militari, de pild (4). Limitarea ti- density, standardization and economy were
purilor a dus la implantarea unor cartiere taken to absurd levels resulting in incredibly
practic identice; diferena de localizare a vast built environments as is the case with
adus ns dup 89 la diferene conside- the Militari neighbourhood (4). The limited
rabile de pre i compoziie social ntre typology led to the implementation of largely
ansambluri din Ferentari (5 una dintre identical plans; however, after 1989 loca-
cele mai srace zone ale Capitalei) i Avi- tion played a major part in differentiating the
aiei (6 aflat n nord, adic principala price range and further led to different social
OVERVIEW
direcie de dezvoltare). mixes: take for instance the similar ensem-

Aceast realitate a diferenelor urbane bles in Ferentari (one of Bucharests poorest
areas -5) and Aviaiei (a district to the north of
3. Bulevardul Unirii: de la expresia megalomaniei la
the city and a major development area - 6).
centralitate i prestigiu
3. Unirii Boulevard: megalomania evolving now into a The reality of major urban and architec- 5. Ferentari i 6. Aviaiei: structuri similare i dezvoltri sociale i economice foarte diferite
prestigious downtown tural differences implies different needs 5. Ferentari and 6. Aviaiei: similar structures and very different social and economic developments

Cine (mai) st la bloc i Who (continues to) live Gentrificare i ghettoizare ca fenomene discrete
Nu exist cartri sociologice n funcie de cartiere. ns
Gentrification and ghettoization as discreet phenomena
There are no sociologic mappings according to the position
unde? O evoluie social in apartment blocks and evoluia social i economic dup 1989 se poate citi foarte
bine n diferenele de pre ale apartamentelor n funcie de
of areas in the city. But the social and economic development
after 1989 can be very well read in the differences in apart-
ngrijortoare where? An unsettling zone. Dincolo de acest criteriu (cel mai important) mai exist
suprapuneri de diferene datorate vrstei i strii cldirii,
ment prizes according to localization. Beyond these (main)
criteria there are overlapping differences according to the
social evolution apropierii de strzi importante etc. age and state of buildings, their distance to main axes etc.
Dup 1989, ca n toate rile din blocul Following the collapse of the regime in 1989,
comunist european (cu excepia fostei apartments in Romania (like everywhere else
Republici Democrate Germane), aparta- in former communist European countries,
mentele au fost privatizate ctre locatari, except East Germany) were sold to the ten-
pentru sume simbolice. Aceasta a creat ants for a symbolical amount of money. This
imediat o pia liber i, n condiiile creterii instantly generated a free market; economic
economice, a apariiei foarte trzii a inves- growth, great demand and belated new in-
tiiilor noi i a unei cereri intense, preurile vestments in housing developments deter-
au crescut n mod fabulos. Prezenta criz a mined a steep increase in prices. The present
dus la o scdere brusc a preurilor (consi- economic crisis forced a reverse trend with
derabil mai mare dect cea n cazul inves- prices of old flats dropping considerably more
tiiilor noi), ceea ce atrage atenia asupra than those of new ones, thus drawing atten-
OVERVIEW
unor probleme pe care creterea de pn tion to certain problems otherwise overlooked

acum le ocultase. during the recent period of economic growth.
Dincolo de dificultile de uzur i ntre- We will address issues of wear and tear
O cartare a accesibilitii carterelor socialiste n Bucureti. Comparaia preurilor pe zone pentru anul 2007 (cu ct o zon
inere, despre care vom vorbi mai ncolo, later on. Let us focus for the time being on Intensitatea culorii marcheaz gradul de accesibilitate fizic. apare mai nchis, cu att apartamentele au preuri mai mari).
compoziia social amestecat, dat de the rapidly changing social mix, a pattern A mapping of the accessibility of socialist neighborhoods in Aceast hart se suprapune apropae perfect cu cea anterioar
Bucharest. The colour intensity corresponds to the degree of a acccesibilitii. Zonele centrale sau foarte accesibile devin
condiiile regimului, se schimb din ce n established by the new liberal regime. There
physical accessibility. mai scumpe, deci tind s fie locuite de o populaie mai nstrit.
ce mai puternic. Exist o tendin foarte is a marked tendency towards segrega- Cercetarea integreaz preurile la vnzare i chiriile pentru
puternic de difereniere ntre cartiere mai tion between rich and increasingly poorer apartamente de 1, 2, 3, 4 camere n fiecare dintre zone.
Prizes comparison by areas for 2007 (darker means
bogate i altele din ce n ce mai srace. neighbourhoods. more expensive). The map overlaps perfectly with
Din pcate, datele statistice actuale, care Present statistics do not collect data on vari- the accessibility map showing that central and very
nu iau n seam categorii n funcie de loc, ous categories by location and therefore a accessible areas are getting more expensive, therefore
tend to be aquired by a richer population. The survey
nu ne dau informaii clare n acest sens. proper analysis is impossible. However infor- integrates selling and renting prizes for 1, 2, 3, 4 room-
ns exist un set de date care ne pot da o mation on prices by area and location is readily apartments in each of the areas.
imagine destul de precis a fenomenului, available as is that on a particular areas ac-
i anume preurile n funcie de zon i co- cessibility, thus giving us a pretty clear picture Comparaia preurilor pentru 2009, deci dup cunoaterea
relarea acestora cu accesibilitatea zonelor of the phenomenon. The raise or fall in prices primelor rezultate ale crizei economice (estimare dup un
respective. Creterea, respectiv scderea in various areas and the ensuing differences studiu preliminar). Diferenierea continu i se accentueaz.
Dei toate preurile au czut n valori absolute, zonele
preurilor ntr-o zon i, mai ales, compa- generate a fairly good account of social differ- centrale i pstreaz n mare msur valoarea de pia.
rarea lor ne dau o imagine destul de bun a ences between areas. Prizes comparison by areas for 2009, after the first results
diferenelor sociale dintre aceste zone. It is interesting to analyse the degree of the crisis (estimation after a preliminary survey). The
development of increasing differences continues. Although
E foarte interesant s analizezi mpre- of accessibility of the citys various social- all prizes fell sharply, the neighborhoods in the center keep
un o hart a gradului de accesibilitate a ist neighbourhoods and a map from 2007, most of their market value.

diferitelor zone socialiste din ora i o hart
din 2007, comparnd preurile pe zone (ex-
comparing prices by areas (rendered through
varying shades of colour). The superposition
Spaiul public ca spaiu Public space as com-
primate aici prin diferena de intensitate a of the two maps yields an almost perfect al comunitii. Necesita- munal space. Why we
culorii). Cele dou hri se suprapun aproa- match. Accessibility results in greater appeal, tea unui proiect urban need an urban project
pe perfect. Accesibilitatea se exprim direct hence higher prices, and from a long-term
prin atractivitate, deci pre, aadar, pe o perspective a different social mix of inhab-
perioad mai lung de timp, prin compoziia itants. An existing mix slowly turns into a Dac acceptm faptul c locuirea nseam- If we accept that dwelling involves more
social a locuitorilor. Mixitatea existent se segregation pattern, whereby blocks in the n nu doar construcii, ci i spaiul aferent than just buildings, that it implies the space
transform ncet-ncet ntr-o mprire n centre are occupied by increasingly wealthier acestora, este evident natura schizoid around them, than we cannot fail to see
care n blocurile din centru ncep s locuias- people while those in the suburbs or more a locuirii din perioada socialist, pentru the schizoid nature of dwelling during the
c oameni din ce n ce mai nstrii, iar zone- isolated start to decay. A map from 2009 - care toate construciile au fost privatiza- socialist era, which led to the privatisation
le de margine sau mcar mai izolate ncep that is at the peak of the crisis shows that te, n timp ce spaiul liber a rmas public. of all buildings whereas free space around
s decad. O hart din 2009, deci n plin this tendency continues. If we look at data Dincolo de decupajele legale ns, acest them remained public property.
criz, arat c aceast tendin continu. evidence, we notice that prices in an off-cen- spaiul pentru toi datorat proiectului Irrespective of all legal aspects involved,
Privind datele propriu-zise, se observ cum tre neighbourhood like Balta Alb dropped politic i urbanistic anterior a ajuns spaiul this type of everybodys space which re-
preurile ntr-un cartier excentric, tip Balta sharply, much more than prices in central nimnui. Individualizarea extrem din sulted from the former political and urban
Alb, au sczut mult mai puternic dect cele areas like Unirii Boulevard or Calea Moilor. ultimii 20 de ani o reacie fireasc la projects has now become a no-mans
din zone centrale, cum ar fi Bulevardul Unirii We are still a long way from the problem- colectivismul impus nainte a dus la o land. For the past twenty years we have
sau Calea Moilor. generating suburbs of major European cities, retragere n cochilia privat i la nchide- witnessed a growth in individualisation
Suntem nc foarte departe de carti- strictly defined socially and perhaps even rea fa de spaiul public. taken to the extreme a natural reaction
erele-problem, strict definite social i ethnically; however should the present ten- Spaiul liber a devenit un teren de vn- to the imposed collective spirit of yester-
chiar etnic, de la marginea metropolelor dency continue we will not be able to avoid the toare. Retrocedri ale unor loturi izolate, years. This in turn led people to withdraw in
europene, ns, dac tendina actual va transformation of big city chunks into ghet- construcii provizorii sau permanente their privately owned shells while taking no
continua, ghettoizarea unor pri uriae din tos. This will be an individually-owned type of
Spaiul public ca spaiu al nimnui. Poriuni din el sunt Public space as nobodys space. Pieces of it are taken over,
ora nu va putea fi evitat. O ghettoizare n ghetto as opposed to the social housing ghet- folosite i eventual delimitate, ns el nu funcioneaz ca un sometimes fenced, but as a whole it does not function as a
sistem privat, i nu de locuine sociale, ca tos in some Western countries, but the end loc de coagulare a comunitii. community space.
n Vest, ns cu rezultate probabil la fel de results will be no less terrifying. It is strange to
nspimnttoare. Observm ns c toate notice that up until now all programmes irre-
aciunile de pn acum programe de rea- spective of whether they address thermo re-
bilitare termic, intervenii asupra spaiului habilitation or the remodeling of open spaces
liber etc. nu iau n nici un fel n seam etc., fail to take this reality into account.
aceast realitate. Steep value increase in certain areas cou-
Creterea valorii unor zone, cuplat cu pled with sharp depreciation in other areas
declinul accelerat al altora nu mai permite should force the administration to take action
lipsa de intervenie a administraiei i lsa- rather than dwindle hoping self-regulatory
rea procesului n voia mecanismelor pieei. market mechanisms will do the job. First and
n primul rnd, aceast situaie ne oblig la foremost the current situation asks for a
o abordare difereniat a strategiilor i in- differentiated strategic approach with regard
terveniilor de reabilitare. n condiiile crizei to rehabilitation. The economic crisis and a
i deci a scderii dramatice a resurselor, dramatic drop in available resources make
aciunea devine extrem de urgent. action more necessary than ever.

incoerente, decuparea de ctre locuitori interest whatsoever in public space.
a unor poriuni din spaiul general pen- Free space became a hunting ground, the
tru parcri, grdini individuale etc; n fine, domain of isolated retrocessions, incoher-
aciuni izolate ale administraiei (primrii, ent temporary or permanent constructions,
administraia domeniului public) innd de abusively framed parking lots, plots turned
ntreinerea spaiilor verzi i a cilor de ru- into individual gardens, a ground for iso-
lare sau a introducerii de mici echipamente lated administrative actions by the munici-
compun un puzzle dezarticulat de teritorii pality or public domain department involv-
i maidane. ing green areas, traffic- and public-works
n continuare ns, toat aceast colecie maintenance, all conducive to a disjointed
de non-locuri o parte uria a teritoriu- puzzle of territories and wastelands.
lui reprezint un potenial extraordinar. This entire collection of non-places occu-
Nu numai pentru implantarea unor operaii pies a vast territory and has huge potential,
la scara general a oraului sau a cartie- not only with respect to large-scale opera-
rului, ci i pentru a fi transformat ntr-un tions benefiting a district or the entire city,
spaiu al locuirii. but also as a space for living.
A new villa pops up in the hearth of a group of blocks of
Credem c orice strategie de reabilitare We believe that all strategies aimed O vil nou rsare n mijlocul unui ansamblu construit n flats that replaced an old neighborhood in the 1980s. After
a locuirii din perioada socialist trebuie s at the rehabilitation of socialist dwelling urma demolrii unui cartier vechi. n cadrul spaiului liber, 1990, some of the old plots that werent built over, have
o parte dintre vechile parcele au fost retrocedate i pe ele been returned to their owners. Many sold them and new
includ i spaiul public ca parte integrant i should make public space integral to all op-
OVERVIEW
ncep s se construiasc locuine individuale sau cldiri houses or commercial buildings are emerging. As a general
c operaiile asupra acestui teritoriu ar trebui erations and that interventions on any such comerciale. n general, construcia haotic i lipsa unor rule in the city, chaotic operations and the lack of urban
s fac obiectul unor proiecte urbane i nu territory should be based on urban projects planuri urbanistice distrug potenialul spaiului liber. projects are destroying the potential of the free space.
s devin rezultatul unor aciuni disparate. rather than disparate actions.
O logic a decuprii de spaii individuale. Pe o poriune de A logic of cutting out individual spaces. On a piece of ground
teren cu statut de proprietate incert din cartierul Militari, un with an uncertain property status in Militari neighborhood,
cuplu dintr-unul din blocurile din jur i-a amenajat o grdin this couple from one of the blocks of flats nearby has built
individual. up an individual garden.

Reabilitarea ca proiect Rehabilitation as a
comunitar community project
OVERVIEW
O orgie a modificrilor individuale. Balcoanele devin verande An orgy of individual changes. Balconies become glazed
nchise, extinderi ale spaiilor interioare, curi individuale loggias, extensions of rooms, superposed courtyards,
suprapuse, depozitri etc. Preferinele personale i (mai storage spaces, etc. Personal taste and (particularly) social
ales) statutul social sunt vizibile n materialele i tehnicile status are expressed by the materials and techniques used.
cu care se realizeaz interveniile. Aceste schimbri sunt de These changes are usually illegal and their architectural
obicei ilegale i au un rezultat architectural deplorabil ns outcome is deplorable, but they express obvious and
exprim o nevoi evidente i omniprezente i care ar trebui general needs and should therefore be taken into account
luate n seam de orice strategie de reabilitare. by any rehabilitation strategy.

Individualismul extrem i refuzul oricrei Extreme individualism and the refusal
rspunderi colective sunt cele mai evi- of any collective responsibility become
dente n evoluia construciilor propriu- evident in the evolution of buildings
zise. Combinaia dintre foarte slaba ade- proper. Lack of urban values coupled with
ren la lumea urban a unei mari pri a an exclusive focus on private space on
populaiei acestor cartiere i concentra- the part of a large percentage of these
rea pe spaiul privat propriu au dus la o neighbourhoods population transformed
transformare a fostelor structuri unifor- former barrack-style uniform ensembles
me, a ceea ce a fost intenionat ca un an- into some sort of vertical villages. Today
samblu de cazrmi ntr-un fel de sate pe every block has become a collection of
vertical. Orice bloc este azi o colecie de private spaces on which all improvement
locuri private, asupra crora se concen- efforts are focused from the clos-
treaz aciunile de mbuntire de la ing of balconies and windows renewal,
nchiderea individual a balcoanelor pn to the remodeling of ones interior and
la nlocuirea tmplriei, amenajarea in- the appropriation of communal property
terioar i chiar acapararea unor poriuni by partly closing off hallways, painting
din proprietatea comun, de la nchiderea or even lining interior or exterior walls
unor pri din holuri la zugrvirea (sau corresponding to ones apartment with
chiar placarea cu panouri termoizolante) insulating panels.
OVERVIEW
a pereilor interiori sau exteriori afereni This is a large-scale phenomenon for

apartamentelor proprii. Fenomenul este Romanian cities all the more evident in the
general la nivelul oraelor romneti, ns case of such ensembles initially conceived Termoizolarea unui bloc prin programul naional de Thermic insulation of a block through the National
devine cu att mai frapant n cazul aces- as units made of identical cells. There is reabilitare. Operaiile complete (incluznd reabilitarea Rehabilitation program. Complete interventions (including
tor ansambluri, gndite iniial ca un ntreg almost no understanding of the need to instalaiilor, echipamentelor i spaiilor comune) nu sunt the rehabilitation and improvement of common installation,
deocamdat luate n considerare. equpments and spaces) are not taken into account yet.
de celule identice. maintain the building as a piece of proper-
Foarte puini neleg faptul c o cldire ty shared by all owners so, in order to avoid unui mecanism de consiliere i comunicare lending institutions, project designers,
colectiv ar trebui ntreinut i reabilitat damage and safety issues and to maintain ntre diferii parteneri (asociaiile de pro- construction companies, etc. Legal provi-
n mod global, ca un bun aparinnd tutu- the value of the building as a whole and prietari, administraia local i cea central, sions currently stipulate that nearly all
ror proprietarilor. Numai astfel s-ar evita with it of each single apartment. instituiile de credit, realizatorii proiectelor, rehabilitation-related operational costs
problemele de degradare global i de Coalescence mechanisms and the firmele de construcii etc.). will be state-subsidised: given the size of
siguran i s-ar menine valoarea ei ca functioning of communal spaces need Subvenionarea cvasitotal a operaii- the problem this solution can hardly be
ntreg, i ca atare i a fiecrui apartament to be learned anew by society as a whole lor, aa cum este prevzut acum, nu are efficient.
n parte. Mecanismele de coagulare i and the process is a lengthy one. How- anse de a fi eficient, avnd n vedere A realist strategy should comprise a
funcionare a unor spaii comune trebuie ever any overall rehabilitation project dimensiunile uriae ale problemei. participatory mechanism whereby prob-
renvate la nivelul ntregii societii, ntr- requires some form of common action if O strategie realist de reabilitare tre- lems are identified together with the in-
un proces care va mai dura mult vreme. it is to be successfully completed. Such buie s presupun un mecanism de parti- habitants; terms of reference are estab-
ns, chiar i acum, orice operaie de activation can only be reached if a coun- cipare: identificarea problemelor mpreu- lished and accepted through a process of
reabilitare de ansamblu nu poate funci- seling and communication body is set up n cu locuitorii, definirea, acceptarea prin negotiation; the project outline comprises
ona dect dac se reuete activarea unei to bring the various partners together. negociere i comunicarea unui proiect both clearly identified costs and techni-
aciuni comune. These partners can be owners associa- economic i tehnic i realizarea acestuia cal solutions; project implementation is
Aceast activare presupune ns crearea tions, local and central administration, sub forma unor aciuni coordonate. based on coordinated actions.

COMMUNICATION PROBLEM 01 COMMUNICATION PROBLEM 01
Medierea i organizarea comunicrii dintre Mediating and organising communication
administraia local i asociaiile de between local administration and Home Owner
proprietari Associations
Conform Legii Locuinei din 1996, asociaiile de proprietari expertiza profesional necesare pentru managementul de According to the 1996 Housing Law, home owners for project management, economic, architectural or legal
ar trebui s defineasc interesele comune ale acestora, s proiecte i pentru cerinele economice, arhitecturale sau associations (HOA) should define the common interests issues.
gseasc mijloace financiare pentru a ntreine i mbunti juridice. of the owners, find financial means to repair and upgrade A Rehabilitation Agency - a NGO or an agency
construciile i s aib expertiza juridic i tehnic necesare O agenie de reabilitare un ONG sau o agenie colabornd the buildings, and have the legal and technical expertise to collaborating with and supported by the municipality would
pentru a superviza contractele de construcie. cu municipalitatea i sprijinit de ctre aceasta - ar asigura manage construction contracts. help to improve the communication process between
Legea cere ca autoritile locale s sprijine asociaiile expertiza necesar i ar mbunti procesul de comunicare The law states that local authorities have to support the HOAs and local administration by bringing in professional
de proprietari ns ele nu au capacitatea managerial i dintre asociaiile de proprietari i administraia local. HOAs, but lack managerial skills and professional expertise expertise.
GUVERN GUVERN
GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT
CADRU LEGAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK
CADRU LEGAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

OVERVIEW
ADMINISTRAIA LOCAL ADMINISTRAIA LOCAL

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
???
COMUNICARE SLAB AGENIA DE REABILITARE
WEAK COMMUNICATION AGENCY FOR REHABILITATION
ASOCIAIILE DE PROPRIETARI ASOCIAIILE DE PROPRIETARI

HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS

Finanarea reabilitrii Financing therehabilitation
Actualul program naional de reabilitare definete subsidiile The present National Rehabilitation Programme defines legal achieve their part of the financing. Particularly socially less-
legale pentru reabilitarea termic: asociaiile de proprietari subsidies for thermal insulation rehabilitation: individual favoured owners will need special loans relying on the value
trebuie s aplice pentru finanare, iar 80% din suma HOAs have to apply for it and 80 % of the amount needed of their apartments. In return, this financing together with
necesar va fi asigurat de ctre guvern i administraia will be supplied by the national government and the local the rehabilitation process will increase the value of their
local. Proprietarii trebuie s plteasc restul de 20%. administration. Private owners have to pay the remaining 20%. property. But in order to achieve this, a specific economic
ns acest sistem pune problema capacitii proprietarilor This conflicts with the ability of the single owners to strategy is mandatory.
individuali de a-i asigura partea lor de finanare. ndeosebi
proprietarii cu resurse reduse, i mai ales cei cu probleme
sociale vor avea nevoie de mprumuturi speciale, garantate
prin propriile apartamente. n schimb, printr-o astfel de PROGRAMUL NAIONAL DE
creditare i prin realizarea operaiei de reabilitare, ei i vor REABILITARE
mri valoarea apartamentelor. Pentru a se realiza ns acest NATIONAL REHABILITATION
PROGRAM
proces, este obligatorie o strategie economic specific.
GUVERN
GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMUL NAIONAL DE
REABILITARE
NATIONAL REHABILITATION
PROGRAM
GUVERN
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRAIA LOCAL
OVERVIEW
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
80% SUBSIDII 80% SUBSIDIES

ADMINISTRAIA LOCAL
80% SUBSIDII 80% SUBSIDIES
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
AGENIA DE REABILITARE
AGENCY FOR REHABILITATION
INANCING
RE F
A
AN
FIN
ASOCIAIILE DE PROPRIETARI ASOCIAIILE DE PROPRIETARI
HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS
? ?
MPRUMUTURI
SPECIALE /
MICROCREDITE
20% FINANARE PROPRIE 20% FINANARE PROPRIE SPECIAL LOANS /
20% FINANCING 20% FINANCING MICROCREDIT

Un factor de sprijin A supportive environment
Pentru a activa potenialul tuturor actorilor (proprietari, The creation of a supportive environment is crucial
municipalitate, guvern), este esenial crearea unui mediu to activate the potential of all stakeholders (owners,
de coagulare. O viitoare agenie de reabilitare ar putea municipalities, government,). A future Rehabilitation
aduce expertiza profesional, ar putea sintetiza informaiile Agency can bring in professional expertise, unify data,
i sprijini att Administraia local, ct i Asociaiile de and support the local administration as well as the Home
proprietari. Astfel ar fi stimulat implicarea comunitii Owner Associations. This would empower the community
i s-ar mbunti capacitile locale. Aceast agenie ar and improve local capacity. The agency could be organized
putea fi organizat de ctre diferite ONG-uri i ar integra by different NGOs and could integrate professionals from
profesioniti din mai multe discipline. various disciplines.
DEZVOLTAREA DE COMPETENE
OVERVIEW
- COMPETENA ADMINISTRATIV
- KNOW-HOW DE MANAGEMENT PENTRU
IMPLEMENTAREA PROGRAMELOR PUBLICE ACTIVARE COMUNITAR MBUNTIREA COMPETENELOR
GUVERNRII LOCALE
- PRACTICI-MODEL ACTIVATING THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- DEZVOLTAREA CULTURII SOCIETII CIVILE / EMPOWERMENT CAPACITY
CAPACITY BUILDING
- IDEI IDEAS - CONSULTAN PENTRU PLANIFICARE
- ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY - SOLUII PRACTICE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS STRATEGIC
- MANAGEMENT KNOW HOW FOR PUBLIC CONSULTANCY FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING
PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTATION - DIAGNOSTIC DIAGNOSIS
- BEST PRACTICES - COLECTARE DE DATE DATA COLLECTION
AGENIA DE REABILITARE - DEVELOPING CIVIL SOCIETY CULTURE

O BAZ DE DATE UNIFICAT CONTRIBUIE PROFESIONAL

- CARTAREA STRUCTURII DE PROPRIETATE - ANALIZE TEHNICE
AGENIA DE REABILITARE
ASUPRA TERENURILOR - SOLUII TEHNICE I INOVAII
- ESTIMAREA STRII CLDIRILOR - STUDII DE FEZABILITATE
- STUDII SOCIOLOGICE - PROIECTE DE ARHITECTUR I URBANISM
- ASPECTE ECONOMICE (IMOBILIARE) - MANAGEMENT CULTURAL
UNIFIED DATA BASE PROFESSIONAL INPUT
- MAPPING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND - ENGINEERING ANALYSES
- ESTIMATION OF THE CONDITION OF THE - TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS AND INOVATIONS
BUILDINGS - FEASIBILITY STUDIES
- SOCIAL SURVEYS - ARCHTECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
- ECONOMIC ASPECTS REAL ESTATE - CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
PROFESIONITI PROFESSIONALS
ONG-URI NGOs

Probleme, dar i Problems as well as
poteniale potential
Putem ncerca s esenializam n cteva Let us now try to sum up the current state of
fraze situaia acestui fond gigantic de apar- this vast stock of socialist apartment blocks.
tamente din perioada socialist. We still lack the necessary know-how
Exist o lips de know-how i de and are unaware of global issues.
contientizare a problemelor globale. The general maintenance of these buildings
Dincolo de intervenii individuale, starea ge- and particularly of their communal facilities
neral a acestor cldiri, i mai ales a prilor is disastrous, hence their market value is
comune este dezastruoas, iar valoarea lor depreciating continuously.
pe pia scade nencetat. Exacerbated individualism hardly allows
Individualismul exacerbat permite cu greu people to become aware of common inter-
contientizarea interesului comun i a aci- ests and the need to take coherent action.
unilor coerente. Scarcity of resources is further enhanced by
Resursele sunt insuficiente, situaie ce se the crisis.
agraveaz odat cu criza. Social balance is likely to disappear under
Echilibrul social este pe cale de dispariie the pressure of the market.
OVERVIEW
sub presiunea pieei. A high level of distrust and lack of entre-

n fine, se menine lipsa de ncredere, de preneurship inherited from the previous
iniiativ motenite din regimul trecut. regime are still in place.
i totui, pe de alt parte And yet, on the other hand...

Nu avem nc ghetouri propriu-zise. There are few if any proper ghettos.
Privatizarea a creat o valoare economic, Privatisation generated an economic value
care trebuie s fie folosit pentru activarea which needs to be used to activate the
reabilitrii. rehabilitation process. Neighbourhoods still
Rezerva de spaiu n aceste cartiere este hold a precious space reserve.
nc uria. Authorities, specialists, and part of the
Autoritile, specialitii i o parte a populaie population are increasingly aware of the
au nceput s contientizeze problema. issues at stake.
n capitolele urmtoare, vom studia mai The following chapters will look closer
n detaliu trei categorii specifice de proble- into three specific categories of issues and
me, pornind de la trei situaii concrete i will briefly outline action principles (legal,
reprezentative i vom schia principii de ac- economic, social, and professional), based
iune (legale, economice, sociale i spaiale). on three concrete and representative situ-
Va fi vorba despre activarea spaiilor rezi- ations in the city. They will tackle activating
duale din centru, despre construirea unui wastelands in the city centre, devising a me-
mecanism de reabilitare a construciilor i chanism for the rehabilitation of buildings,
despre negocierea unor spaii comunitare. and negotiating communal spaces.
42 | MAGIC BLOCKS
Activare
Transformarea maidanelor din spatele cortinelor
de beton n spaii publice pentru oraul vechi i
oraul nou.
Turning waste grounds behind concrete curtains into
The Downtown n
public spaces for the old and new city.
Activating
centru
Dup blocuri, Hidden Behind Blocks
oraul istoric Lies the Historic City
Un ora de blocuri rspndit ca o tumoare

n oraul vechi: n nici o capital din fostul A forest of blocks straggle just like tumors
lagr socialist (european) nu regseti ceva into the old city no other former East-
comparabil cu marile operaii totalitare din ern European capital city experienced the
anii 70 i 80. huge totalitarian operations Bucharest
Pn atunci, Bucuretiul postbelic cu- underwent in the 1970s and 1980s. During
noscuse doar mici ansambluri staliniste, earlier decades only few smallish Stalinist-
activare activating
extinderea prin cartiere funcionaliste, iar n style ensembles, functionalist neighbor-

centru, intervenii punctuale. Radicalizarea hoods, and city centre in-fills were built.
regimului Ceauescu a mers mn-n mn The radicalisation of Ceauescus regime
cu modernizarea oraului istoric de went hand in hand with the modernisa-
fapt, cu proiectul de nlocuire complet a tion of the historic centre, indeed a project
acestuia cu un ora de tip nou, colectiv i aimed at completely replacing it with a new,
omogen, instrument i expresie a construi- collectivist, and homogeneous city, itself
rii unei noi societi. a vehicle as much as the expression of the
Datorit dorinei dictatorului de a obine ct new society that was being forged.
mai rapid noua scenografie, s-a nceput cu To complete this new stage setting at the
demolri liniare de-a lungul unor axe prin- fast pace required by the dictator, demoli-
cipale (existente sau noi), urmate de con- tions followed a linear trajectory along
struirea unor fronturi continue i uniforme. major axes (either in place or new) making
Din fericire, pasul urmtor avansarea cu space for the building of unbroken slabs
demolarea i reconstruirea n profunzime with standardised fronts. Fortunately, the
nu a apucat s fie dus la capt. next step of in-depth demolitions and
De aceea, situaia se prezent azi sub new constructions behind these lines was
forma unor cortine de beton de-a lungul not carried out. As a result today concrete
bulevardelor, care ascund n spatele lor curtains along boulevards screen out ir-
spaii libere neregulate (poriuni demolate regular spaces (demolished and turned
i rmase libere) i o zon central tiat into terrain vague) and the jagged fringes
abrupt, de multe ori valoroas i aproape of the historical centre, often intact and
intact. Densitatea este considerabil, architecturally valuable. The density is high,
spaiul liber, extrem de redus. while vacant land is scarce.

Dup 1989, centralitate The Post-1989 Autistic
autist: bulevardul din Centrality Syndrome: up
fa i maidanul din front is the boulevard -
spate behind it lies the waste
ground
activare activating
Though apartments specifically aimed at

Unele apartamente, destinate nomencla- high party officials have an above-the-
turii, sunt de o calitate superioar mediei, average quality, most of the others do not
ns cea mai mare parte nu difer deloc de differ significantly compared to those in
cele din cartiere mrginae. ns, datorit suburban districts. However, their central
poziiei lor n centru, prestigiul, valoarea location, prestige, and market value have
economic pe piaa liber, deci i nivelul attracted tenants of greater financial pow-
financiar al populaiei, sunt la niveluri ridi- er. Although prices and rents have dwindled
cate. Dei criza a dus la o scdere generali- during the current crisis, the price differ-
zat a preurilor i chiriilor, diferena de pre ence between such apartments and those
dintre aceste apartamente i cele din zone in districts further a field has sharpened.
exterioare s-a intensificat. The new axes do work as urban boule-
Noile axe chiar funcioneaz ca bulevar- vards - or at least the front facing the street
de urbane spre strad, cel puin: spaii does: posh commercial spaces, heavy car and
comerciale scumpe, trafic auto i pietonal pedestrian traffic. Nonetheless, the prestige
intens. Prestigiul apartamentelor ns este of apartments here is closely related to their
strict legat de poziia n cadrul oraului; location within the city; their inhabitants hardly
locuitorii nu se raporteaz n nici un fel la relate to the built context. Behind the concrete
context. n spatele cortinei, spaiile libere curtain, empty spaces are wildly used as park-
nu folosesc dect pentru parcaje slbatice, ing lots, for garbage storage or service areas;
depozitarea gunoiului, zone de serviciu: in short these spaces are dead - despite
locuri moarte, lipite ns de un oraul vechi their proximity to the old city which enjoys a
cu statut de zon protejat (!). protected-area status (!).

Principiul esenial de de a face legtura ntre dou lumi oraul
vechi i oraul nou i de a reintegra pri
The essential interventi- together two separate worlds the old and
the new city and thereby for reintegrat-
intervenie: activarea mari ale centrului n imaginea oraului i n on principle: activate the ing large areas of the centre into the citys
locurilor reziduale i circuitul economic i turistic. Ca atare, ele terrain vague to trigger image as much as into its economy and
declanarea unui proces trebuie privite drept locuri importante la
scara mare a oraului.
an improvement process tourism. On the scale of the city these are
places of major importance.
Scopul interveniilor nu se poate re- Interventions should not be restricted
zuma la rezolvarea parcajelor sau a unor These are so-called privileged areas: exclusively to solving the parking problem
n aceste zone privilegiate mecanismele spaii verzi, ci trebuie s devin cel de a free-market mechanisms function here on or landscaping some green areas; the aim
pieei libere funcioneaz n mod natural crea locuri publice atractive, integrate a natural basis when it comes to real estate of interventions should be the creation of
pentru construcii. Nu att stimularea, ct circulaiei generale a oraului i care s development. What is therefore needed is attractive public spaces, integral to the
controlul i coordonarea operaiilor de activeze att marginile cartierelor vechi, not a stimulus for the building rehabilitation citys overall fabric and connectivity. Such
reabilitare a construciilor sunt necesare: ct i partea din spate a irurilor de blocuri. process but rather control and coordination spaces should fully participate in activating
ne putem gndi la kit-uri (subansambluri Crearea de spaiu public de calitate duce n mechanisms. One can think of some sort the fringes of the old neighbourhoods as
standard pentru goluri, perei, balcoane) mod aproape automat la aciuni de revita- of kits - standard subunits for windows/ well as the areas behind the lines of blocks.
sau cel puin la regulamente pentru faade lizare individuale. doors, walls, balconies -, or a set of regula- In urban rehabilitation, the creation of
(inclusiv pentru publicitate) care ar duce la Datorit lipsei de spaiu i vecintii tions concerning faades (including adver- quality public space triggers almost auto-
activare activating
imagini controlate arhitectural. cortinei de beton, construciile noi sunt tising solutions) that would help control the matically individual revitalisation actions.
n ceea ce privete spaiul public, ruptura dificile, iar demolrile pentru a aciona pe o architectural image. Lack of space and the proximity of the
urban implic dou tipuri de abordare. arie mai larg, imposibile din motive so- As far as public space goes, the urban concrete curtain make the construction of
n fa nu ar trebui dect reglementat ciale i economice evidente. Propunem ca fracture requires a sensitive dual approach. new buildings extremely difficult; extensive
amenajarea unor bulevarde care au deja o principiu de intervenie o chirurgie urban Up front one needs a simple set of rules to demolitions are almost impossible for ob-
dinamic remarcabil ; n spate este ne- soft, prin intervenii minimale, care s se regulate the refurbishment of boulevards vious economic and social reasons. There-
cesar activarea spaiilor libere reziduale. concentreze asupra spaiului liber. which have a remarkable dynamic growth fore our suggestion favours a soft urban
Aceste locuri moarte au un potenial enorm Zon de articulare of their own, whereas wastelands at the surgery with minimal interventions focused
Connecting area Activare Activation rear need to be activated. These dead on existing free spaces.
Zonele libere din spatele blocurilor capt importan la places have a huge potential for bringing Activare Activation
scara mare a oraului. Activarea lor se poate realiza printr-o
chirurgie urban soft - prin reglementarea i amenjarea
spaiului public.
These empty spaces behind the blocks of flats spaces
are essential at a general urban scale. Soft urban surgery
through interventions in public space urban planning &
landscaping.
Oraul vechi Cortina de beton

Good old city Concrete curtain boulevards

Strategie Strategy
drept investiii; potenialul de cointeresa-

activare activating
Studiu de caz: o poriune din Calea Moilor. Rezerve de

re n faza iniial a proiectului, este, deci, Studiu de caz: o poriune din Calea Moilor. Gentrificare investments. Therefore it is highly unlikely
spaiu i un ora istoric invizibil foarte redus. datorit poziiei ultra-centrale that owners will become actively engaged
Case study: a portion of Calea Mosilor Boulevard. Space Astfel, operaiile asupra spaiului vor c- Case study: a portion of Calea Mosilor Boulevard: during the first stage of the process.
reserve and the invisible historic center gentrification due to a highly central position in the city.
dea n sarcina administraiei. Cum finan- So, it is the administrations task to acti-
Dat fiind importana i caracterul special al ri masive sunt improbabile, o strategie Since such places are of such great impor- vate this space. Since massive financing is
acestor locuri, interveniile trebuie regle- economic ar consta din urmtoarele tance and specificity, interventions should quite unlikely, an economic strategy would
mentate prin proiecte urbanistice coman- puncte eseniale: be carried out through urban projects pursue the following key points:
date de ctre administraie i acionnd commissioned by the administration with
asupra unor zone clar definite. Concentrarea pe intervenii minima- regard to clearly defined areas. Focus on a minimum of essential inter-
Aceste proiecte ar trebui s cuprind le i eseniale. De fapt, n mare parte, un Projects should include both the scale ventions. In fact, such an urban project will
att scara unui proiect urbanistic zonal sau astfel de proiect urban nu trebuie dect of an area plan or of a detailed local plan only have to modify, prioritize, order and
de detaliu (zonificare, reglementri), ct s modifice, s ierarhizeze, s ordoneze i (zoning, regulations) and a proper public coordinate operations already underway:
i pe cea a unui proiect de amenajare de s coordoneze operaii care au loc oricum: space landscaping project (including archi- improvement of traffic and green areas,
spaiu public (soluia arhitectural, tehnic amenajarea suprafeelor de circulaie, tectural and technical solutions as well as of playgrounds, etc. Do almost the same
i bugetul soluiei de amenajare). Cel mai a spaiilor verzi, a locurilor de joac etc. the actual implementation budget). A pilot things only different.
eficient mod de declanare a procesului Aproape aceleai lucruri, ns altfel. project would be the most efficient way to Generate income by creating and rent-
este prin realizarea unui proiect-pilot. Obinerea de venituri prin crearea i start the process. ing out legal parking lots and by collecting
Poziia i compoziia social a locuitori- nchirierea unor locuri de parcare legale i Though location and the tenants social taxes from those who use certain spaces
lor determin un avantaj economic, ns, n prin perceperea de taxe pentru folosirea status generate an economic advantage such as restaurant terraces, etc.
mod aparent paradoxal, i o noncomuni- unor spaii drept terase de restaurante etc. they also produce, paradoxically, a non- Increase awareness as to the unquan-
tate. Ocupanii apartamentelor (de obicei, Contientizarea veniturilor necuanti- community. Tenants here change quite tifiable income resulting from the areas
firme sau familii care nchiriaz locuinele ficabile prin creterea atractivitii zonei often as apartments are usually rented out growing appeal (implicitly including the
de la proprietari) se schimb ntr-un ritm (deci, implicit, a valorii funciare i a taxelor), to third parties, be they companies or fami- increase in land and tax revenues), and the
accelerat, locuinele sunt vzute mai ales injectarea de activiti noi etc. lies; they are regarded as money-spinning generation of new activities, etc.

SPORT EDUCAIE
Activarea spaiului public
CULTUR COMER
FUNCIUNI
Urban Activation Of Public Space

NATUR LOCURI DE JOAC CET
EN
I
RECREERE SPECTACOL C
IT
IZ
RESI D
EN
I EN
N
S
TS
DE
SPTMNAL ANUAL ZI
DURATI
RE
ZILNIC LUNAR
PERMANENT
EC
V
IN
I
REZIDENI ASOCIAII DE PROPIETARI O matrice cu diferite
NEIG
H BO U R S
ACTORI
funciuni i actori indic

CETENI AI ORAULUI GOSPODRII VECINI posibilitile de principiu
de a activa spaiul liber
ASOCIERI ALE ASOCIAIILOR DE PROPIETARI pe durat temporar sau
A continuous urban public space behind the
permanent.
Un spaiu public continuu n spatele cortinei de beton Concrete Curtains
Spaiul liber de pe Calea Moilor poate fi privit drept un The open space on Moilor boulevard can be seen as a
activare activating
potenial spaiu public nu doar pentru locuitorii blocurilor, potential urban public space for local residents as well as
ci i pentru vecinii din centrul istoric i pentru cetenii for neighbours from the historical center and for citizens
oraului, n general. Insernd funciuni i activnd aceste in general. By lending spaces different functions and by
zone moarte, s-ar obine n anumite poriuni secvene ale activating them a sequence of differentiated and dynamic
unui spaiu public continuu i dinamic. public spaces will appear.
O secven de spaii publice active

Sequence / Continous Public Spaces
SPORT EDUCATION
FUNCTIONS
CULTURE COMMERCIAL
NATURE KIDS - SPACE
US
RECREATION ENTERTAINMENT
/B
M
RA
/T
RS
YEARLY
CA
WEEKLY
DURATION
UZ
OB
DAILY MONTHLY
UT
/A
PERMANENT
I
VA
AM
TR
I/
IN
A
M
RESIDENTS HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS Activation of open space
SPAIU PUBLIC
PUBLIC SPACES
ACTORS
A matrix with different

CITIZENS HOUSEHOLDS functions and actors shows
AN
in principle the possibilities
ST I
DE N
RI
PE IETO
NEIGHBOURS ASSOCIATIONS OF H.O.A. for short- or long-term
P
activation of open space.

Calea Moilor: aplicarea principiilor ntr-un loc real Flirt Parcare organizat Sport Joac
Calea moilor: aplying principles to a real place Organized parking Playing
activare activating
Aglomeraie pe
Citit Conversaie Servicii bulevard
Reading Conversation Services Crowded street

activare activating

activare activating

Studiu de caz: poriunea Case Study: the area
definit de bulevardul closed off by Calea
Calea Moilor, strzile Moilor Boulevard, Cor-
Corbeni, Popa Petre i beni, Popa Petre, and
Cercului Cercului streets.
Vizualizarea unei posibile

Calea Moilor reprezint un exemplu Calea Moilor perfectly illustrates the soluii. Reabilitarea spaiului
perfect al reconstruirii agresive a unei axe aggressive reconstruction of an historic public ar fi probabil urmat
istorice i al imposibilitii de intervenie axis and the impossibility of building or n mod natural de activarea
individual (i privat) a
prin construcii i demolri. demolishing constructions now. parterelor blocurilor. Plan
n prezent, poriunea aleas este n mod Obviously, the chosen area is a non- al ansamblui i vedere a
evident un nonloc: maini parcate haotic pe place: chaotically parked cars on every elementului principal de
mobilier
fiecare metru ptrat accesibil, spaii verzi available inch, fenced wastelands as green 1. Spaiu verde (existent
activare activating
sub forma unor maidane ngrdite, calcane. spaces, blind walls. i extins). 2. Spaiu pentru
Ca prim pas, n zonele reziduale de margi- As a first step one would organise the sport. 3. Spaiu public
(mineral). 4. Banc liniar
ne se vor amenaja 40 de locuri de parcare existing residual space into 40 resident par- organiznd spaiul general
rezidenial. Prea puine de altfel, nici un king places. Obviously not enough; no small- i definind zone sociale
fel de soluie organizat n-ar putea acoperi scale solution here as only larger-scale diferite. 5. Cimea 6. Parcaj
pentru locuine, tratat cu
necesarul , astfel nct restul de locuri va neighbourhood garage projects (subterra- dale nierbate. 7. Parcaj
trebui asigurat prin msuri la scara carti- nean or over-the-ground) could do the trick. de proximitate. 8. Pivot
erului (garaje sub- i supraterane). Se vor Bicycle and motorbike stands will also be set. social - Post TRAFO
devenit suport pentru
amenaja locuri de parcare pentru biciclete, The existing green space is quite large echipamente sportive
motociclete i scutere. and will be further planted (trees, lawns); it Visualisation of a possible
solution. Public space
Spaiul verde existent este extins i will also be visually complemented by one
rehabilitation would be
primete plantaii suplimentare (arbori i of the parking lots covered with grass tiles. followed naturally by
gazon) i este completat vizual de unul The existing transformation plant will be individual (and private)
activation of groundfloors.
dintre spaiile de parcare, amenajat cu turned into a pivotal public object suppor- General plan and view of
dale nierbate. ting baskets ball stands that cater for the 2 the main furniture element
Punctul Trafo existent devine un pivot mini sport grounds. 1. Green spaces (existing
and extended). 2. Sport.
public, suport pentru couri de baschet ce The centerpiece of the new arrange- 3. Public space (paved). 4.
deservesc dou miniterenuri de sport. ment is a bench made of wood and metal, Liniar bench organizing the
Elementul major al noii amenajri este o with vertical variations (areas for seating general space and defining
different social areas. 5.
banc din metal i lemn, cu variaii pe ver- and lying down, roller-skating, skateboar- Small fountain.
tical (locuri de aezat, culcat, dat cu rolele ding), an unbroken line that organises the 6. Parking with grass tiles.
i skate-boardul), o linie continu care overall space and creates different social 7. Parking space. 8. Social
articulation the electric
organizeaz spaiul general i definete areas. The bench designs the perimeter transformer turns into a
zone sociale diferite. Banca nconjoar of the sport grounds, separates strictly structure for basket stands

activare activating
Definirea unui spaiu

public veritabil i activarea
limitelor. Intervenie cu mijloace minimale i folosind elemente de la faa locului.
Defining a real public space An intervention through minimal means and re+using existing elements.
and activating the limits.
terenurile de sport, desparte cile de acces pedestrian areas from those leading to the
la parcaje de zonele strict pietonale, de- parking lots, and builds pockets for smal-
termin buzunare pentru grupuri mici sau ler or larger groups and new green spaces.
mari i zone de plantaii noi. Accesul spre Access from Calea Moilor will be marked
Calea Moilor este marcat prin orientarea through the positioning and density of
i densitatea corpurilor de iluminat, prin street lights, pavement and green fencing.
pardoseli i plantaii. In time, this space change will probably
Transformarea spaiului va determina cel invite the ground floors of blocks on Calea
mai probabil deschiderea ctre el a parte- Moilor to open up to it. However, we belie-
relor blocurilor de pe Calea Moilor. Credem ve that the space will function from the very
ns c va funciona de la nceput ca un scuar beginning as a central square, one enjoyed
central, un spaiu al locatarilor de la bloc i ai by block- and individual unit- inhabitants
cartierului de case, dar i al bulevardului, un as well as by boulevard passers-by; it will
loc pentru skateri, rolleri i cei ahtiai dup be a place for skaters, rollers or basketball-
baschet, bunici, liceeni ndrgostii i pen- lovers, grandparents, teenagers in love, one
tru biei i fete de firm care i vor mnca where yuppies will eat their prt-a porter
sandviciul i salata pe banc la umbr. sandwiches or salads on the shaded bench.

negociere negociation
De la
non-
spaiu
public
la curi
comune
Non-Public Space To Common Courts
Spaiul tuturor, spaiul Space: Everybodys,
nimnui, spaii ale Nobodys, Some
unora. Peoples
A house does not imply just a building, but
also the ground on which that house is
erected. Regardless of whether dwelling is
of the collective or individual type, it com-
prises both the buildings and their space:
O locuin nu e doar o cldire, ci i terenul one which is distinct from the space that
pe care st. Locuirea fie ea i colectiv belongs to everyone else. That nobody
nu cuprinde doar construciile, ci i un spa- seems to have ever thought about this
iu al lor, diferit de cel pe care l folosete either in the past or now, when the rehabili-
toat lumea. Una dintre marile probleme tation process is the talk of the day - is one
ale cartierelor de blocuri e c nimeni nu of the major issues we are faced with when
s-a gndit la aa ceva; i nu prea o face nici it comes to socialist housing estates.
acum, cnd discutm de reabilitare. Today almost every apartment block has
n prezent, (aproape) toate blocurile au been privatized. Yet the grounds around
fost privatizate. Tot terenul din jurul lor a them are, according to the initial concept,
rmas ns n domeniul public, conform public domain. Though legally public,
conceptului iniial. Public doar n sens such stretches of land are vaguely defined
strict legal, fiind vorba aici despre ntinderi spaces, appropriated either individually or
ambigue, din care locuitorii acapareaz n by groups of inhabitants. At the other end
mod individual sau n comun poriuni. n authorities who attempt to manage spaces
efortul de a gestiona un teritoriu care evi- which they obviously can not, limit them-
dent le depete posibilitile, autoritile selves to routine operations such as the
recurg la operaii-standard demolri demolition of - or the issuing of building
sau autorizri de garaje i chiocuri, locuri permits for - garages and kiosks; the crea-
de joac i parcri i la un mijloc simplu, tion of playgrounds and parking lots; or sim-
acela de a ngrdi i a scoate astfel din joc ply the fencing of vast expanses of space.
suprafee ct mai mari. Mii de kilometri de Thousands of kilometers of fences enclose
grdulee definesc spaii verzi intangibile, green areas that become untouchable and
deci inutilizabile i nelocuibile. thereby unusable and uninhabitable.
n acest capitol vom discuta un tip de This chapter deals with an alternative
abordare alternativ a spaiului liber, care approach to open space, one that enables
s permit transformarea non-spaiului the conversion of public non-space into
public ntr-un loc al unei comuniti: o zon some sort of communal space; in other
semipublic, un tampon ntre spaiul public words, a semi-public area, a buffer betwe-
general i cel privat comun al blocului i, en the overall public space and the private
mai departe, cel individual al locuinei. worlds within the buildings.

Despre locuri diferite i Different places -
abordri diferite different approaches
The key question every intervention in

urban public space needs to address is
whom is it aimed at, who and how will use
that particular space.
Pentru orice intervenie asupra spaiului In Bucharest as much as everywhe-
urban, ntrebarea fundamental este cui se re else, collective housing estates differ
adreseaz ea i, de fapt, cine i n ce fel va immensely on grounds of their location and
folosi acest spaiu. typology. Different spaces require diffe-
n Bucureti, poziia i tipologiile ansam- rent approaches hence different strate-
blurilor de locuine colective determin gies. Wastelands resulted from disastrous

diferene uriae. Aceste spaii nu sunt la fel totalitarian demolition campaigns in central
i, ca atare, ar trebui s fac obiectul unei Bucharest (see Activate) belong primarily
strategii diferite. Zonele reziduale aprute to the city and should therefore be treated
n urma dezastruoaselor operaii totalitare as public space. When it comes to the vast
din centru (vezi capitolul Activare) aparin functionalist neighbourhoods, it is difficult
n primul rnd oraului i ar trebui s aib un to determine if some parts lend themsel-
caracter public. n marile cartiere funcio- ves better to being turned into more priva-
naliste (vezi capitolul Reabilitarea con- te areas (see Building Rehabilitation).
struciilor), cu greu s-ar putea determina However the generalization of the
poriuni apte a deveni mai private. front and inner courtyard system of the
Exist ns o mulime de operaii, da- 1970s and 80s resulted in a multitude of
torate mai ales generalizrii sistemului operations which suggest different areas
de fronturi i incinte din anii 70 i 80 care enjoyed different degrees of intimacy and
sugereaz diferene de intimitate i protec- protection as compared to others. Despite
ie ntre diferite zone. n ciuda unui caracter the incomplete and often questionable
incomplet i a unei arhitecturi problematice, character of their architecture, inner cour-
atmosfera incintelor este automat diferit tyards feel inherently different from their
de cea a poriunilor spre strad. Credem respective street fronts. Only a minimum
c nu e nevoie dect de intervenii minime of interventions would be required to align
pentru ca aceste ansambluri s se apropie such ensembles to the classical models
de modele urbane clasice de tipul insulei, of the urban block, street front alignment
al fronturilor de cldiri i al curii interioare: and inner courtyards, rendering spaces
spaii mai private, cu adevrat locuibile. more private and hence more livable.

Un proiect comunitar A Community Project SPORT EDUCAIE
CULTUR COMER
FUNCIUNI
NATUR LOCURI DE JOAC
RECREERE SPECTACOL
SPTMNAL ANUAL
DURATI
ZILNIC LUNAR
PERMANENT
The definition and management of any com- REZIDENI ASOCIAII DE PROPIETARI

O matrice cu diferite
munal space require a participatory process.
ACTORI
funciuni i actori indic
The prerequisite here is the identification of CETENI AI ORAULUI GOSPODRII VECINI posibilitile de principiu
Definirea i gestionarea unui spaiu comun a number of locations which have poten- de a activa spaiul liber
presupun un proces participativ. Spre deo- tial (both from a spatial and a community
ASOCIERI ALE ASOCIAIILOR DE PROPIETARI pe durat temporar sau
permanent.
sebire de capitolul Activare, aici nu trebuie perspective in some ensembles one
pur i simplu realizate proiecte arhitectu- may sense one form or another of space
rale i urbanistice, ci trebuie determinat appropriation on the part of inhabitants)
un numr de locuri cu potenial (spaial rather than the direct implementation of
i, eventual, comunitar de exemplu, n any number of architectural and urban-
ansambluri n care se pot vedea tentati- planning projects as purported in Activate.
ve n sensul aproprierii spaiului) i, apoi This would be complemented by a staged
construit un parteneriat ntre administraia partnership between local administrati-
local i locuitori. Devine necesar o orga- on and the inhabitants. To bring the latter
nizaie care s-i aduc pe acetia mpreun together and coordinate the entire opera-
SPORT EDUCATION
i s coordoneze ntreaga aciune. Poate fi tion a dedicated body becomes necessary.
CULTURE COMMERCIAL
FUNCTIONS
un ONG sau o direcie n cadrul primriilor Whether this should be an NGO, an agency,
NATURE KIDS - SPACE
sau al administraiei centrale, ns n orice a central or municipal department is less
caz va avea forma unei echipe multidiscipli- important than the teams multi-discipli- RECREATION ENTERTAINMENT
nare (arhiteci, urbaniti, sociologi, activiti nary membership: it should comprise ar-
comunitari, economiti). chitects, planners, sociologists, community WEEKLY YEARLY
DURATION
n continuare nu vom prezenta dect activists, economists).
DAILY MONTHLY
schema unui astfel de mecanism de fapt, The following is the frame of such a PERMANENT
un sumar al principiilor i metodelor , ur- mechanism, a mere list of principles and
mat de ilustrarea printr-un studiu de caz. methods, illustrated by a study case.
Pasul 1: Negociere primar. Definirea unor Step 1: Primary negotiation. Identify en- RESIDENTS HOME OWNER ASSOCIATIONS Activation of open space
ACTORS
ansambluri cu potenial, elaborarea unor sembles with potential; elaborate prelimi- A matrix with different
variante preliminare, contactarea locatarilor, nary variants; contact inhabitants; set up
CITIZENS HOUSEHOLDS functions and actors shows
in principle the possibilities
montarea parteneriatului cu administraia, partnership with local administration; open NEIGHBOURS ASSOCIATIONS OF H.O.A. for short- or long-term
discutarea variantelor. discussions on preliminary variants. activation of open space.

Pasul 2: Punerea n funciune a unui sistem Step 2: Enforcing a legal system. To pro- Spaiu interior semi-public
(va fi administrat de ctre o
legal. Acest pas depinde i de formele ceed further the legal framework has to be asociaie de AP)
legale care vor trebui definite. Asociaiile de defined. Owners associations manage only Inner semi-public space
proprietari administreaz construciile i the buildings and a strip of ground one- (to be administrated by an
association of HOAS)
celebrul metru dimprejurul acestora. Fr meter wide around them. In view of their
a se atinge aceast autonomie, s-ar putea autonomy, an association of associations AGENIE consiliere,
defini o asociaie a asociaiilor care s should be set up for the purpose of mana- coordonare, comunicare
AGENCY counselling,
gestioneze o poriune de spaiu liber afe- ging the grounds attributed to a particular coordination,
rent gruprii de cldiri respective. Aceast group of buildings. While these grounds will communication
poriune de teren ar trebui s rmn n remain public domain, their management Spaiu public funciuni
proprietate public, ns s fie administrat will be carried out by the new association: a urbane
de ctre aceast asociaie un mod de a legally defined semi-public space. Public space - urban
functions
defini legal spaiul semipublic. Step 3: Zonal and functional framing.
Pasul 3: Decupajul teritorial i funcional. Devise a Local Area Plan or Urban Design AP Asociaie de proprietari
HOA Homeowners
Printr-un PUD sau PUZ s-ar defini zonifica- Plan to define the basic zoning (public and Association
rea de baz (spaii publice i spaii semi- semi-public spaces) and the functions
publice) i funciunile (conform negocierii (based on negotiations between the various
ntre diferiii parteneri), bugetul operaiei i partners); set up project budget and devise
proiectul propriu-zis de amenajare. the project plans.
Pasul 4: Realizare. Step 4: Realization
De la spaiu liber la
spaiul nostru
Spaiul liber din studiul
de caz Aviaiei poate fi
transformat ntr-un spaiu
semipublic, servind mai
Activarea unui spaiu semipublic ales locuitorilor din blocurile
Urban Activation Of Public Space adiacente. Definind arii
particulare i introducnd
funciuni noi (concentrate
pe nevoile locuitorilor),
curile interioare ar putea Studiu de caz: un ansamblu
deveni cu adevrat spaii ale din cartierul Aviaiei
AS IDENI RESI locuirii. Vizualizarea unei posibile
AS OCIE EZ
LO OCIA RI AL
DE
R
CA II
TA LO E Transforming open space soluii. Zone publice i
NTS
RI R
AS DE
AS
OC
SO
CIA into our space semi-publice, parcaje,
T ION
HO IAII OF Open space in the protecia sau activarea
ME D
OW E LOC H.O
.A
NE A
R A TAR Aviaiei case study can be parterelor
SS I
OC
IAT transformed into a semi- Case study: an
ION
public space, of interest ensemble within the
mostly for the residents of Aviatiei neighborhood.
adjoining housing units. By Visualisation of a possible
defining specific areas and solution: Public and semi-
bringing in different new private areas, required
facilities, focused on the parking, protection or
dwellers, it can become a activation of building
truly livable space. ground floors

Studiu de caz. Un Case Study. An The big block actually consists of two dis-
tinct units. The two will be separated by a
ansamblu din cartierul Ensemble in the Aviaiei pedestrian area: this safe and accessible
Aviaiei, Bucureti district, Bucharest public space will have adjoining sport gro-
unds, seating areas, and a running track.
Cartierul Aviaiei a fost construit n anii The Aviaiei district was built in the 1980s as Bordering on either side of the pedestrian
80, ca o operaie tipic de urbanism de a typical prefab urban planning operation. area and inside each inner courtyard, two
prefabricate. Cteva module standard Standard five-storey modules made of big densely planted areas of the semi-public
de blocuri P +4 din panouri mari au fost pre-cast concrete panels were assembled type will serve each group of units. Given
asamblate de bine, de ru pentru a forma into some sort of courtyard structure. Unlike the peoples lasting interest in parking
incinte. Spre deosebire de alte cartiere other virtually identical neighbourhoods, lots, our solution includes 150 parking
cu totul identice, poziia sa n nordul Aviaiei enjoys prime location: the district lies places, a figure that exceeds the 121 pla-
oraului, adic zona principal de dezvol- to the north of the city, a major development ces currently necessary for the residents.
tare (Pipera este la doi pai) i accesibi- area (and close to Pipera, currently the tren- The envisaged solution is that they be
litatea foarte bun au fcut ca dup 1989 diest neighbourhood). This and the areas rented by the city administration, and ac-
preurile la apartamente s urce specta- improved road accessibility sent apartment cess to those within the inner courtyards
culos n clasamentul general. Compoziia prices here sky-high after 1989. The districts should become restricted.
social, cuplat cu problemele unui spaiu gentrification coupled with the derelict A minimum of interventions could turn
liber deplorabil reprezint un potenial condition of its open spaces could turn its a desert into a complex place, a transition
pentru succesul unui proces de reabilitare. rehabilitation into a potential success. area from out into the street, to on the
Am ncercat s modelm rezultatul unei We tried to model the results of a nego- lanes between yards and then inside our
negocieri care s echilibreze toate interese- tiation that would balance every interest. own courtyard.
le. Insula mare se compune de fapt din dou
uniti distincte. Acestea vor fi desprite de
un traseu pietonal un spaiu public prote-
jat i accesibil, activat de terenuri de sport,
locuri de stat i chiar o pist de alergri.
De-o parte i de alta a acestui pietonal i n
interiorul fiecrei incinte sunt definite dou
spaii semipublice, intens plantate i care
vor servi fiecare grupare de locuine.
Oamenii nu renun nc la parcri pentru
nimic n lume. Aa c soluia prevede i 150
de locuri de parcare, depind necesarul de
121 pentru rezideni. Majoritatea acestora ar
trebui nchiriate de ctre administraie, cele Studiu de caz: un ansamblu din cartierul Aviaiei
Localizare n cadrul principalei zone de dezvoltare a oraului,,
din incint vor avea acces restricionat. n consecin preuri ridicate la apartamente. Potenial ridicat
Cu mijloace minimale, se transform pentru a se crea diferenieri n cadrul spaiului liber
pustiul existent ntr-un loc complex, o Case study: an ensemble within the Aviatiei neighborhood
Position in the main development area of the city, therefore
trecere ntre afar la strad, pe alee ntre rising dwelling prizes.
curi i nuntru la noi n curte. Potential for differenciating the empty space



Exemplu de soluie urban i peisager: se asigur
necesarul de parcri (i, n acelasi timp, o surs de
venituri pentru primrie), ariile semiprivate sunt clar
definite, pasajul public ar putea activa o parte din partere
pentru funciuni comerciale i servicii i ar injecta un
tip de recreere dinamic ntr-un spaiu de mrime
considerabil.
Example of possible urban and landscaping solution:
necessary parking is assured (in the same time an income
source for the administration), semi-private areas are
clearly defined, the public passage will activate the
ground floors and serve as a dynamic recreation space.
1. Pasaj pietonal
2. Spaii pentru sport + baschet, alergri, joac (publice).
3. Curi interioare semiprivate(amenajate conform
dorinei locatarilor)
4. Bnci asigurnd i delimitarea spaiilor
5. Parcaje exterioare, pentru locatari i vizitatori
6. Parcaje interioare (cu acces limitat)
1. Public passage
2. Public space for sports and play basket stands,
running, gymnastics etc.

3. Interior semi-private courts (used and landscaped
according to owners)
4. Benches that separate the different areas
5. Parking space outside the block,
for inhabitants and visitors
6. Parking inside the block (controlled access)


Apartment Blocks and their Rehabilitation
Reabilitarea
blocurilor
De la aciuni disparate
From unrelated actions to a
coherent project la un proiect coerent
S le aruncm n aer! Lets blow them up!
IZOLARE TERMIC
THERMAL
INSULATION
IZOLARE TERMIC
THERMAL INSULATION LIFT
PROTECIE MAXIM ELEVATOR
LA ZGOMOT
MAX NOISE PROTECTION
SECURITATE MAXIM
MAX SECURITY
MAX MAX MIN MIN

DISTAN FA DE MAINI DISTAN FA DE GUNOI DISTAN FA DE MAINI DISTAN FA DE GUNOI
DISTANCE TO CARS DISTANCE TO GARBAGE DISTANCE TO CARS DISTANCE TO GARBAGE
REABILITARE REHABILITATION
O NEVOILE
negociereLOCUITORILOR DE LA PARTERI
a unor interese ETAJUL 1
conflictuale NEVOILE LOCUITORILOR
Negotiation of conflictingDEinterests
LA ETAJELE SUPERIOARE
Cam aa suna pn nu demult prima NEEDS RESIDENTS
ntreinerea GROUND
unei cldiri ceAND FIRST FLOORS
reprezint o comunitate de NEEDS RESIDENTS
To maintain UPPER
the building FLOORS
itself as the communal property
reacie a oamenilor cnd venea vorba proprieti individuale duce la conflicte de interese ntre of all private owners leads to conflicts of interest usually
locuitorii de la primele niveluri i cei de la etajele superioare. between the residents of the ground floor and those of
despre reabilitarea blocurilor n care triau. Procesul de reabilitare nseamn i gsirea de soluii pentru upper floors. The refurbishment process also involves finding
De la instalaii pn la finisaje, toate li se Until recently this was peoples most nevoile fiecruia. architectural solutions that answer everybodys needs.
preau de nesuportat, dar ceea ce era common reaction when the rehabilitation Dup 1989, un amestec autist de intervenii individuale After 1989, an autistic mix of individual changes
cel mai greu era s ajung la o nelegere of apartment blocks was discussed. From
atunci cnd venea vorba despre reparat plumbing to finishing, everything see-
un acoperi mpreun, s pun interfon med unbearable; yet reaching consensus
sau s-i zugrveasc faada. Raiunea proved extremely difficult when it came
nvinge ntotdeauna, mai ales cnd nu poi to repairing the roof, installing an inter-
chiar s arunci n aer 70% dintre spaiile de phone, or repainting the faade. However,
locuit ale Capitalei. Oamenii au nevoie s reason will prevail as no one will actually
discute despre problemele comune i s-i blow up 70% of the citys living quarters.
stabileasc reguli, lucru care e nc foarte People will discuss common proble-
anevoios, dar ceea ce-i mai important este ms and establish rules, no matter how
c Romnia a demarat un program naional difficult that still is. More importantly, in
de reabilitare care a nceput n martie 2009, March 2009 Romania launched a national
program ce le permite multora dintre aceti rehabilitation programme that makes it
oameni s-i termoizoleze blocurile i s possible for many to insulate their blocks
le schimbe faa. Programul presupune o and change their faades. According to
finanare de 80% din partea statului, iar this programme 80% of costs will be
asociaiile de locatari trebuie s reueasc covered by the state and 20% by the ow-
prin diverse formule (incluznd mprumu- ners associations through various means
turi bancare) s gseasc cei 20%. (including bank loans).

Mici i mari probleme Problems big and small este strict pentru aceste operaii, i,
odat ncheiat procesul, el nu reuete s
rehabilitation will be needed?
> thermo-insulation is currently limited to
n viziunea autoritilor i acceptat de For authorities - with whom most people genereze o alt form de finanare sau de lining exterior walls with a layer of po-
majoritatea oamenilor desigur, fiind- agree, since results are visible and clear susinere economic. Ce se va ntmpla lystyrene; a more comprehensive take on
c are rezultate foarte vizibile i clare, - rehabilitation means thermo-insulation cu o nou reabilitare pe mai departe cnd energy exchange would address mainte-
reabilitarea presupune termoizolarea cu of outside walls with polystyrene, window va fi nevoie?; nance-cost reduction through alternative
polistiren a pereilor exteriori, schim- refurbishment (although many owners > termoizolarea cldirii este limitat la energy sources and the use of passive
barea tmplriilor existente (ce-i drept have already changed their windows, the punerea n mod brutal a polistirenului pe elements such as sun shades and shut-
muli i-au schimbat tmplriile aleato- resulting wide range of colors and shapes perei, pe cnd o vedere de ansamblu ters for climate control purposes
riu, rezultnd o diversitate de forme i thus distorting the initial architecture), asupra schimbului energetic al cldirii > rehabilitation refers only to the exterior
culori care au distrus arhitectura origina- and faade repainting. cu mediul presupune n acelai timp i shell of the buildings, without addressing
l), revopsirea faadei. There are however major drawbacks to diminuarea costurilor de ntreinere prin other communal spaces and facilities
Neajunsurile majore ale acestui pro- the programme: folosirea de energii alternative, controlul such as staircases, garbage pits, eleva-
gram sunt de mai multe naturi: > the state contributes a major amount climatului prin elemente pasive ca para- tors, plumbing, letterboxes, or railings
> pe de o parte, ajutorul financiar acor- exclusively for this operation; once solare sau obloane; the programmes implementation fails to
dat de stat, o sum foarte mare de altfel, the process is over, it will not genera- > reabilitarea nu este privit dect la ex- acknowledge the potential of the space
Bloc reabilitat termic prin programul naional

te new financial means or economic terior, pe cnd toate elementele comune surrounding the blocks, and is not cor-
Block of flats, rehabilitated through the national program support; what will happen when further gen scar, ghen de gunoi, lift, instalaii, roborated with other urban rehabilitation
cutie de scrisori, balustrad rmn n con- programmes
tinuare neacoperite; > last but not least, blocks continue to be
> implementarea programului nu ine perceived as ensembles of homogeneo-
cont de potenialitile spaiului dim- us cells. However their evolution and the
prejurul acestor blocuri, coroborarea cu various types of relationships apartments
alte proiecte de reabilitare urbanistic nu establish with the surrounding terra-
este nc un subiect. in result in different if not all together
> n fine, blocurile sunt privite n continua- divergent interests on the part of inhabi-
re ca ansambluri de celule omogene. ns tants: those who dwell on the ground and
evoluia lor i diferitele tipuri de relaie first floors would like to see the garbage
ale apartamentelor cu terenul determin collection points and parking lots as fart
interese foarte diferite ale locuitorilor. Cei away as possible; they would like to see
care locuiesc la parter i de la etajul 1 ar the noise and pollution levels reduced
vrea ca parcrile i locurile de depozita- and are afraid of thieves; on the contrary,
re a gunoiului s fie ct mai departe, au those living on the upper floors would
probleme cu zgomotul, poluarea direct like garbage collection points and parking
i sprgtorii. n schimb, cei de la etajele lots to be as close as possible and are
superioare ar vrea ca parcrile i gunoiul interested in the elevator and its proper
s fie ct mai aproape i sunt extrem de maintenance as well as in that of the
interesai de lipsa sau proasta funcio- terrace which needs to be insulated. All
nare a liftului i de izolarea terasei. Toate these different needs have to be addres-
aceste interese trebuie armonizate n sed and harmonised within a well-articu-
cadrul unui proiect coerent. lated project.

UPSIDEDOWN. Un stu- UPSIDE DOWN. A case normal, chiocurile au disprut, trotuarele
au redevenit circulabile, comerul negru s-a
market activity was reduced drastically.
That sort of invisible history petered out
diu de caz i dou pro- study and two pilot pro- redus drastic. leaving no regrets. People instantly admit-
puneri-pilot pentru blo- posals for an apartment O istorie invizibil, care a disprut fr ted there were advantages to the rule of
curi n Balta Alb block in Balta Alb urm i mai ales fr regrete. Oamenii au n-
ceput s recunoasc imediat avantajele unei
law, enjoyed their street walks and secu-
rity, and even rescheduled their shopping
viei cu reguli clare, impuse de o autoritate, programme as there were fewer non-stops
s se bucure din nou de strzi i securitate, shops but, lets face it: the dangerous
Un episod de-acum 10 ani, o vntaie mic Some ten years ago a little bruise ba chiar s-i fac un program normal de places and the mafia had also disappeared
M-am nscut n Balta Alb. De fapt, de aco- I was born in Balta Alb. My first memo- cumprturi, mai puine magazine non-stop from the neighbourhood.
lo am primele amintiri, fiindc m-am mutat ries are from there, since my family and desigur, dar, n schimb, locurile periculoase
Balta Alb, mijlocul anilor 90
cu familia mea acolo cnd aveam vreo 4 ani. I moved in when I was four. In 1998 I was i mafia plecaser din cartier. Balta Alb, middle of the 90s
n 1998, eu avem 28 de ani i locuiam cu 28 and lived there with my girl friend; the
prietena mea, cartierul era ntr-o eferves- neighbourhood was in full swing, al-
cen general, aveai senzaia c aproape most everybody seemed to own a small
toat lumea avea un mic butic alb de civa boutique and those who didnt sold their
metri ptrai, iar cine n-avea vindea direct merchandise on the pavement. Many of
pe jos. Multe dintre staiile de metrou din the subway stations were surrounded by
cartier ajunseser nconjurate pe zeci de peddlers selling their goods cheaply and
metri de comer ambulant i ilicit cu tot fe- often illegally. During the warm seasons
lul de lucruri ieftine. Zi, noapte toat lumea everybody was on the streets night and
era pe strzi, o via n ritm non-stop, cel day. A simple small-scale economic
puin ct era cald afar. Un model simplu organization proliferated at a fast pace,
de organizare microeconomic propagn- absorbed the social energy, solved the
du-se rapid i absorbind energie social job problem for many and replaced social
rezolva problema multor locuri de munc, and community life: it was cheap and
inea loc de via social i comunitar, era affordable. One has to admit, however,
ieftin i accesibil tuturor. Cu toate astea, that it also induced extreme chaos, lack-
era extrem de haotic, ba chiar insalubru ed hygiene, caused pollution, generated
i poluant, ajungnd uneori pn la mic petty crime, a lot of mafia activity and
infracionalitate, destul de mult mafie i social turmoil.
tulburare social. One day I got a bruise following an
ntr-o bun zi, m-am ales cu o mic argument during the late hours. And one
vntaie ntr-o discuie nocturn i tot other day the mayor forbade this form
ntr-o bun zi primarul de atunci a interzis of commerce throughout Bucharest.
aceast form de comer n tot Bucuretiul. Despite catastrophic scenarios about
n pofida unor previziuni catastrofale, cum thousands of unemployed, lack of affor-
c vor rmne mii de omeri i nimeni nu dable merchandise, and the disappea-
va mai putea cumpra lucruri ieftine cnd rance of street life, things fell back into
are chef, c plcerea de a sta pe strad va place smoothly. Kiosks vanished, one
disprea, lucrurile s-au aezat pe un teren could walk again on sidewalks, and black

Hyper, super Hyper, super
Civa ani mai trziu, odat cu investiiile A couple of years later, once the big hyper-
mari n hypermarketuri i noi blocuri de markets and new apartment buildings had
locuit, au nceput diverse programe ale made their way, local district authorities
primriei de reabilitare ale ntregului cartier, embarked on a variety of rehabilitation cu partea central a oraului, totui car-
cum ar fi organizarea parcrilor, mbun- programmes aimed at streets and parking tierul nu a mai cunoscut de la perioada kiosk period the area has not experienced
tirea multor strzi, a parcurilor i spaiilor lots, parks and green areas, tram stops, chiocurilor albe nici un alt dinamism social a similar social dynamic and peoples life is
verzi, amenajarea staiilor de tramvai, a squares and playgrounds which served the att de considerabil, iar viaa nu mai e deloc hardly electrifying.
scuarurilor i a spaiilor de joac. Sunt zone district as a whole. There are areas in Balta palpitant pentru locuitori. Fenomenul Though hardly urbane, that spontane-
din Balta Alb pe care le putem considera Alb which can claim to be the best mana- acela spontan i necontrolat, paraurban n ous and uncontrolled phenomenon was
dintre cele mai bine ngrijite ntre cartie- ged of all the citys communist neighbo- bun msur, era ns foarte viu i activ i very much alive and active and proved that
rele construite n perioada comunist din urhoods. It is socially and economically demonstra c potenialul locului de pre- the areas potential for change was huge
Bucureti. Cu un bun balans social i eco- well balanced, reasonably well connected facere este mult mai mare i ar trebui s therefore it should not be turned exclusive-
nomic, cu o legtur destul de rezonabil to the city centre; yet ever since the white nu rmn doar un dormitor uria i curat, ly into a gigantic and clean dormitory with
doar cu ceva alei i ceva magazine. only a handful of walking lanes and shops.
Construit n anii 70, Blata Alb este foarte Built in the 1970s, the Balta Alb nei-
aproape de normele de locuire ale perioadei ghbourhood comes very close to moder-
moderniste: bare de blocuri dispuse liber n nist standards: medium density, long slabs
zone verzi, cu o densitate echilibrat, iar ca- immersed in green; in terms of areas and
litatea proiectelor de arhitectur, n termeni functionality the architectural quality of pro-
de suprafee i funcionalitate, dei puin jects withstood the proof of time, although
lume tolereaz aceast afirmaie, este nc few will admit to this. Certainly, these blocks
valabil. Blocurile sunt, desigur, uzate i are heavily marked by wear and tear, there
prost ntreinute, echiparea urban cu centre are no sports, cultural or social centres and
de sport, educative sau sociale este nc this contributes to the overall sleepy stag-
foarte slab, lucru care menine nc n bun nant dormitory feel. Although the type of
parte aerul de dormitor i de loc obosit. Dei urban structure here is not particularly apt
aceast structur urban nu este foar- to generate street life and public space, the
te adecvat pentru a crea strad i spaiu phenomenon described above is essential
public, fenomenul despre care vorbeam mai in shaping our understanding of the areas
sus este esenial n nelegerea potenialului latent potential.
care st n spatele acestui loc. In Balta Alb rehabilitation projects
n Balta Alb operaiile de reabilitare ter- included in the national programme were
mic din programul naional au reuit printre among the first successful ones, with
primele, trecnd peste dificultile cofinan- associations covering more than the re-
rii din partea asociaiei de locatari cu cei quired 20% of costs. However, this strictly
20%, ns aceast operaie strict tehnic nu technical procedure does not generate
genereaz nici o alt valoare urban. any other urban value.



Aadar, UPSIDEDOWN So, UPSIDE DOWN poate ntoarce ctre asociaia de locatari
prin programe coerente de reabilitare care
generated through rental could contribute to
a more sustainable long-term approach to
s includ i elementele pasive de protecie the rehabilitation of those particular blocks,
(obloane, parasolare) sau panouri solare. so as to further address the much needed
Ceea ce ne propunem s folosim pentru For the purpose of this project we wo- Mai departe mizm pe faptul c un astfel passive elements such as shutters and sun
acest proiect sunt elementele pe care uld like to resort to precisely those ele- Cele dou tipuri: bare nalte la bulevard i cldiri mai mic n The two types: high slabs on the boulevard and smaller
le-am gsit operante n istoria cartierului; ments that proved operational in the adncime buildings behind them
pe de o parte, libera iniiativ comercial i neighbourhoods recent history: on the
gradul de cooperare social i comunitar, one hand, entrepreneurship and a certain
deschiderea ctre valori urbane pe care o degree of social and communal cooperati-
poate susine mix-ul social echilibrat, pe de on, an open attitude towards urban values
alta rezervele de spaiu liber dintre blocuri, endorsed by a balanced social mix; on
date de viziunea urbanistic de tip raiona- the other hand, the reserve of free space
list aizecist. between blocks created by the rationalist
Propunerea noastr se concentreaz urban approach of the 1960s.
asupra dou tipuri de cldiri, diferite prin di- Our proposal targets two types of buil-
mensiuni, i, mai ales, prin relaia cu oraul: dings which differ both in terms of size and
Este vorba, n primul rnd, de cldiri mari, in terms of their relationship to the city. The
situate pe strzile principale din Balta Alb, first type is that of big
ale cror partere sunt nc locuine, situaie apartment blocks located on the
inconfortabil pentru locatari i nepracti- neighbourhoods main streets. Their
c n perspectiva folosirii spaiilor din faa ground floor apartments are still inhabi-
acestor blocuri. ted, a situation which is uncomfortable for
Pe scurt, n proiectul numit Upsidedown the owners and rather impractical when it
este vorba despre construirea unor noi comes to using the spaces in front of these
locuine peste ultimul nivel, la un standard blocks. In a nutshell the project called Up-
mai bun i mult mai spaioase, n care lo- side down envisages the building of more
catarii de la parter se pot muta, iar parterul spacious and comfortable new apartments
astfel eliberat poate fi preluat de primrie i over the top floor. Inhabitants will be able
nchiriat pentru dezvoltarea de servicii. to move there and thereby free up the
n cazul n care chiria i taxele obinute n ground floor space which will be further
urma activitii agenilor comerciali care i rented out by the municipality so as to help
desfoar activitatea n aceste spaii revin develop various services.
n totalitate primriei de sector care ar iniia If the rent and tax money collected from
acest proiect, atunci asociaia de locatari those using such spaces goes entirely to the
poate negocia un procent mai mic pentru district or municipal authority that initiated
contribuia proprie la ntreinerea blocului the project, then the respective owners as-
i a spaiilor comune de care ar avea nevoie sociation could negotiate to lower its contri-
ntreaga comunitate (grdin, alei, parcri). bution to the blocks maintenance costs as
Generarea continu de fonduri prin aceste well as to those covering communal spaces
chirii noi o vedem ca pe o resurs ce se such as gardens, alleys, parking lots. Income

de program-pilot poate s genereze an- shades or even solar panels.
sambluri multifuncionale integrate, de ser- A further argument in favour of such a
vicii i locuire, care s ridice calitatea vieii pilot-programme is that it could genera-
n cartier, ducnd la avantaje certe pentru te integrated multi-functional ensembles
locuitorii si cum ar fi: scderea costurilor where living and services coexist, enhancing
de deplasare, temperarea traficului sau the neighbourhoods quality of life stan-
ar putea s ajute la coeziunea social i s dards; inhabitants will benefit from lower
confere o nou identitate urban n zon. transportation costs and lower levels of
Cel de-al doilea tip de operaie se refer traffic; the project might also prove helpful in
la blocurile P+4, aflate n spatele marilor terms of generating greater social cohesion,
bare de la bulevard. Aici, apariia unor func- and a new urban identity for the area.
iuni comerciale este greu de susinut, din The second type of intervention refers to
cauza lipsei de accesibilitate i a inevita- five-storey apartment blocks situated behind
bilei distrugeri a unei atmosfere, destul de the big slabs which screen the main boule-
domestice, pn la urm. Propunem deci vards. The insertion of commercial functi-
o variant simplificat: printr-o investiie ons in their proximity is hardly a sustainable
s-ar construi apartamente la mansard solution since such areas lack accessibility but
i un lift absolut necesar; acestea ar urma enjoy a strong domestic atmosphere which
s fie vndute, iar prin fondurile obinute, would be lost. Hence our proposition for a
s-ar putea finana acelai tip de lucrri ca la simplified version: invest in building a new top
primul studiu de caz, i o zon de protecie floor and an absolutely needed elevator, sell
privat sau semi-privat, n faa aparta- apartments there and use the money thus
mentelor de la parter. resulted for works as in the first case study as
Activarea spaiului public n urma operaiei Activation of public space through the operation
Dificultile pe care le percepem acum well as a semi-private protection area in the
sunt legate de: definirea unui proiect mai proximity of the groundfloor.
amplu, coerent, care s integreze proiec- High among the perceived difficulties is
tele de reabilitare funcional la nivel zonal the need to identify a broader project frame
(redefinirea caracterului zonei de loisir that integrates insulation operations with
i comer/servicii) cu cele de reabilitare functional rehabilitation on a wider zonal
termic. Acest lucru l vedem posibil prin scale and addresses the areas leisure and
interpunerea unei agenii care s asigure commercial and community needs. To
comunicarea transparent a proiectului make this possible an agency should ensu-
ctre asociaia de locatari i formularea re transparent communication of the pro-
pertinent i negocierea intereselor ace- ject to the owners associations; the agency
stor asociaii n faa autoritii locale. Ne would also be able help them formulate
imaginm aceast agenie ca pe un orga- their requests and negotiate on their
nism n cadrul primriei de sector; ns ar behalf with local authorities. This could be
putea la fel de bine s fie o instituie de sine a department run by district or municipal
stttoare, cu filiale n sectoare, sau chiar authority, a self-contained institution, with
un ONG care s se specializeze n oferirea branches in Bucharests districts, or even
unor astfel de servicii. an NGO specialised in such services.

Tipul 1 - cldiri nalte Type 1 high buildings
lng boulevard. along the boulevard.
Mecanism de reabilitare Rehabilitation
mechanism
Construirea i activarea unui mecanism Parterul devine activ (i productiv)
financiar Definirea structurii funcionale i proiecte
1. nfiinarea unei agenii (independente sau pentru conversia parterului
din cadrul primriei) Amenajare: spaii comerciale i servicii
2. Montarea proiectului mpreun cu publice
asociaia de proprietari 3. Obinerea de Spaiile de la parter ncep s devin rentabile
fonduri de la un partener privat 4. Lansarea i apte de a finana alte operaii pentru imobil.
proiectului The ground floor becomes active (and
Constructing and activating a financial pproductive)
mechanism Functional structure and design for the

1. Founding of an agency (independent ground floor conversion
or integrated into the City Hall office) 2. Construction: commercial spaces and
Building up a project with the Home Owner public services
Association 3. Fund raising from a private The ground floor spaces start to bring in
partner money and to be able to finance other
4. Launching of the project operations for the building
Reabilitare integrat finanat prin nchirie-

Mansarda cu apartamente pentru locuitorii rea spaiilor de la parter
de la parter 1. nlocuirea instalaiilor existente (termice/
1. Proiectarea i construirea unui nivel de electrice/sanitare)
mansard 2. mbuntirea condiiilor bioclimatice
2. Locuitorii de la parter ii cedeaz aparta- i a impactului ecologic (izolare termic,
mentele i se mut la mansard obloane) 3. Tratarea faadei, reabilitarea i
3. Spaiul eliberat la parter intr n adminis- ntreinerea spaiilor comune
trarea ageniei Overall rehabiliation financed by the ground
The mansarde apartments for the flooor rental
ground floor inhabitants 1. Replacement of the existing installa-
1. Design and construction of an attic level tions: thermical / electrical / sanitary 2.
2. The inhabitants from the ground floor Dwelling and ecologic improvement: ther-
apartments move into the attic dwellings mal insulation, shading panels 3. Faade
3. The free ground floor space gets into the insulation, rehabilitation and maintaining
administration of the agency of common spaces.

Tipul 2 cldiri P+4 n Type 2 5 floors build-
adncimea esutului, ings, separated from
fr ascensor the big streets, without
an elevator
Building up of the project (the agency

Montarea proiectului (agenia mpreun cu together with the Home Owners Associa-
asociaia de proprietari), obinerea finan- tion), fund raisign, design and construction Vnzarea apartamentelor i finanarea Selling of apartments and financing of the
rii, proiectarea i construirea unei man- of an attic with apartments, construction operaiei precedente i a reabilitrii inte- previous operation and the complex reha-
sarde cu apartamente i a unui ascensor. of an elevator. grate a blocului. bilitation of the building.

Concluzii (1). Principii Conclusions (1). Princi- urbane, situaii juridice) care s permit
aciuni intite.
architectural and urban contexts, all of whi-
ch would enable well-tailored action plans.
pentru o strategie de ples for a Rehabilitation
reabilitare Strategy Activarea prin spaiul public din care Activate public space of which we have a
avem o rezerv uria. Acesta ar trebui s yet untapped reservoire. It should become
devin un element al locuirii, de importan- an integral element of dwelling, almost as
aproape egal cu cea a construciilor. important as buildings. In any urban soci-
n orice tip de societate urban, calitatea ety, the quality of public space contributes
n primul rnd, ar trebui s vorbim despre First, lets talk about urban regeneration spaiului public este un factor esenial to the status of a place as much as to its
regenerare urban i de-abia n al doilea and leave the technical problems for later. pentru valorizarea (inclusiv economic) economic value and is one of the most
plan, despre probleme tehnice. Tehnicile Rehabilitation techniques can be imported a unui loc i, totodat, una dintre cele efficient components of the rehabilitation
exist, pot fi importate i adaptate din alte and adapted from countries that have long mai eficiente componente ale reabilitrii: process. The small investments it requires
ri care se ocup de mult vreme deja been busy rehabilitating their 1960s and 70s investiii minime cu un efect considerabil i yield considerable impact and once in place,
de reabilitarea fondului din anii 60 70; stock; we mostly need a fit-for-purpose care, odat realizate, declaneaz operai- trigger individual actions.
montajul urbanistic, economic i financiar urban, economic, and financial frame. This uni individuale.
trebuie ns s rspund unei situaii foarte frame needs to address specific conditions The Urban Project should integrate the
specifice, caracterizat prin structura pro- here, such as property structure, various in- Proiectul urban ar trebui s integreze otherwise disparate actions: inhabitants
concluzie conclusion
prietii, diversitatea de situaii i localizri, dividual circumstances and locations, as well aciunile disparate: locuitorii care aduc who make individual refurbishments and
lipsa unei culturi comunitare. as a non-existent community culture. mbuntiri individuale i acapareaz appropriate chunks of public space, autho-
Urgent coherent action is required. We buci de spaiu public, autoritile care rities who embark on thermo-rehabilitation
Urgena unei aciuni coerente este ma- are faced with a dilapidated building stock propun programe de reabilitare termi- programmes, the department of public
xim. Degradarea construciilor i echi- whose facilities are in very bad shape; small c, administraia domeniului public care domain which landscapes the vacant public
pamentelor (deloc influenat de micile individual refurbishments cannot improve amenajeaz spaiul liber etc. space, a.s.o.
mbuntiri individuale) i, independent de their state in any way; bedsides price drop Proiect urban nseamn att planifi- An urban project includes both planning
aceasta, scderea accelerat a valorii din caused by changing perceptions about care (prin PUD-uri i PUZ-uri) aplicat regulating strictly defined city areas (detail
cauza amplasamentului i a apariiei noilor locations and the availability of new housing unor arii bine definite, ct i proiecte de and zone development plans), and public
ansambluri va duce la probleme econo- developments will lead to major problems, amenajare a spaiului public; de fapt, de o space projects indeed a process struc-
mice (dispariia unor valori, srcire, lipsa economic (loss of certain values, poverty gndire arhitectural i urban a ntregu- tured in architectural and in urban planning
posibilitilor de reabilitare) i, evident, increase, lack of rehabilitation means) as lui proces. terms.
sociale (ghetoizare i apariia cartierelor- well as social (the emergence of ghettos
problem cu toate consecinele ce decurg and problem-causing neighbourhoods E nevoie de cineva care s asambleze Someone has to put all the pieces
din aceasta). with everything they entail). piesele, adic de o organizaie s o nu- together namely an organization lets
mim agenie care ar trebui s coordo- say an agency tasked to coordinate all
Strategii diferite pentru situaii dife- Different contexts call for diffe- neze operaiile; fie c este vorba despre operations. It could be a local administra-
rite dat fiind faptul c masa de blocuri gri rent strategies given the superposition o agenie n cadrul administraiei locale tion or ministry department or it could be
se compune de fapt dintr-o suprapunere of spatial as much as social differences. sau a ministerului de resort, fie despre just as well a specialised NGO. Whatever
de diferene spaiale i sociale. De fapt, Indeed we know very little about these un ONG specializat, aceast organizaie its subordination, this body should consist
nici nu tim destul despre aceste cartiere. neigbourhoods. The setting of a database ar avea o componen multidisciplinar of a multi-disciplinary team whose role is
Este esenial constituirea unei baze de is essential. This should comprise infor- i ar aciona exact n punctul cel mai slab: to mediate the relation between owners
date (structur social pe cartiere, ana- mation about the neigbourhoods social relaia dintre asociaiile de proprietari associations and authorities or lending in-
liz economic, decupaje arhitecturale i structure, an economic and legal analysis, i autoriti sau instituii de credit. Este stitutions, that is to say act where support is

Concluzii (2) Conclusions (2)
vorba despre iniierea aciunilor, consi- most needed. Tasks include action initiati- Dincolo de blocurile din Bucureti. Beyond Bucharests blocks. The wild
liere (inclusiv economic), comunicarea on, counseling (including economic) project Estul slbatic ca laborator East as testing ground
proiectului, negocierea ntre diferiii par- communication, facilitation of partners Proiectul nostru se concentreaz asu- This project focuses on a specific category
teneri, coordonarea operaiunilor. Proiect negotiation, activity coordination. Com- pra unei categorii specifice i a unui ora and a representative city. We believe however
comunitar nseamn n esen parteneriat munity projects rely on partnerships and reprezentativ. Credem ns c aceste that these principles can be adapted to fit
i consiliere un rol pe care n momentul counseling, a role no one is assuming for principii se pot adapta i la alte orae din other cities in Romania (one should always
de fa nimeni nu-l ndeplinete. the time being. Romnia (atenie ns la resursele i mai bear in mind that smaller cities have more
mici din aceste locuri) i, avnd n vedere limited resources). Since this is a common
Comunicarea i promovarea sunt Project communication and promotion situaia foarte asemntoare, ar putea feature of many East European countries, it
eseniale, pentru c puin lume are essential as few people are aware of servi ca punct de plecare pentru discuii could be a good starting point for more gen-
contientizeaz nevoia unei aciuni urgente how urgent a coherent action plan is or how privind i alte ri din fostul Est. Peste tot eral discussions. Similarities abound: a stock
i coerente i a consecinelor continurii n disastrous the consequences of continuing (cu excepia fostei Germanii democrate) of dwellings that were entirely privatised, au-
acelai mod ca acum. Nu ne gndim doar in the same manner as until now would be. avem o situaie asemntoare: un fond tistic individual actions versus general decay,
la discui i campanii, ci i la promovarea This is not only about discussions and cam- de locuine privatizat integral, aciuni an almost inexistent public space.
concluzie conclusion
alterantivelor i a exemplelor bune. Ceea ce paigns but also about promoting alternative individuale autiste versus o deteriorare It is difficult to say to what extent such a
ne duce la ultimul punct, i anume la: solutions and examples of good practice. general, un spaiu public cvasiinexistent. project could be relevant outside this regional
This leads us to the final point, namely Nu tim n ce msur acest proiect poate frame. Yet decaying neigbourhoods, loss or
Importana proiectelor-pilot Institu- fi relevant i n afara acestei categorii de privatization of public space and difficulties in
iile din Romnia se mic greu. Procesul, The importance of pilot-projects probleme. ns cartierele deczute, dis- fostering a communal spirit are by no means
aa cum l-am descris, va fi lung i compli- Romanian institutions are notoriously slow. pariia sau privatizarea spaiului public i the exclusive domain of eastern Europe.
cat. Pe lng construirea i aprobarea de The process we described will be a long and dezvoltarea dificil a unui spirit comuni- It may well be that the brutal switch from one
strategii, ar fi foarte eficient s se iniieze intricate one. Apart from developing stra- tar nu sunt n nici un caz specifice estului system to another and the lack of self-regu-
proiecte-pilot aplicate unor ansambluri tegies and having them approved, it would Europei. Poate doar c, avnd n vedere latory mechanisms enhanced our perception
bine definite i de dimensiuni reduse. Dup be good to have a range of pilot-projects trecerea brusc de la un sistem la altul i of certain evolutions which take place in a
alegerea locurilor i consultarea locatarilor, applicable to strictly-defined small ensem- lipsa unor mecanisme de autoreglare, n more subdued manner in western Europe.
se poate defini clar tema (adic ce ar face bles. Once the ensembles are chosen and aceast parte a lumii sunt mai evidente, Could the East be a testing ground? May
agenia, odat nfiinat), se poate con- consultations with inhabitants take place, evoluii care n Vest au loc ntr-un mod be. It is our hope that this project is deemed
cepe un proiect urban i realizearea aces- the project brief can be outlined (thereby mult mai potolit (i mai ascuns). interesting at least from a regeneration
tuia din urm n etape. Astfel se testeaz modeling what the agency would do once Estul ca laborator? Poate. Sperm ca perspective, given its focus on dwelling and
mecanismele i, cel mai important, se duce established), the urban project conceived, acest proiect s fie interesant cel puin public space. It is an attempt to figure out
la bun sfrit o operaiune concret care and then implemented. Mechanisms could ca un demers de regenerare concentrat a set of precise actions that require a mini-
poate fi comunicat i adaptat. thus be tested and a full-scale intervention pe locuire i pe spaiu public; ca o ncer- mum of interventions but could lead to major
Nimic nu este mai eficient dect un could be carried out, one that could then be care de a gsi, ca n acupunctur, un set benefits similar to acupuncture, if you like. It
exemplu bun. De aceea, orict ar prea communicated and adapted. de aciuni precise i cu mijloace minimale is a way of carefully observing developments
de ciudat, poate c demararea acestui din There is nothing more efficient than a good care s duc la efecte majore; n fine, characteristic of a certain place within a given
urm punct, proiectul-pilot, ar trebui s example. As weird as it may sound, kicking ca un mod de a privi atent la evoluiile period of time in an attempt to make them
devin prima aciune asupra creia s ne off the pilot-project could in fact become dintr-un loc i de a ncerca deturnarea, change course to the better rather than deny
concentrm. the first action and a focal point of interest. i nu negarea lor. them altogether.

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Proiectul Magic Blocks / magic blocks project

Proiect finanat de ctre Institutul Cultural Romn prin Programul Cantemir

Proiectul este susinut de ctre:

Exemplar gratuit / Free copy

SEE! Archis Interventions n Sud-Estul Europei

De la proiectul totalitar, la piaa imobiliar

Negociere. De la non-spaiu public la curi comune

86 Reabilitarea blocurilor. De la aciuni disparate la un proiect coerent

108 Concluzii (1). Principii pentru o strategie de reabilitare

111 Concluzii (2)

arhitecturi serializate i industrializate tions specific rather to a village than a city,

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pei, aceste construcii au avut o origine i housing developments in Western Europe,

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direcie de dezvoltare). mixes: take for instance the similar ensem-

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unor probleme pe care creterea de pn tion to certain problems otherwise overlooked

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a pereilor interiori sau exteriori afereni This is a large-scale phenomenon for

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CADRU LEGAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

CADRU LEGAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK

ADMINISTRAIA LOCAL ADMINISTRAIA LOCAL

ASOCIAIILE DE PROPRIETARI ASOCIAIILE DE PROPRIETARI

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80% SUBSIDII 80% SUBSIDIES

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AGENIA DE REABILITARE - DEVELOPING CIVIL SOCIETY CULTURE

O BAZ DE DATE UNIFICAT CONTRIBUIE PROFESIONAL

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sub presiunea pieei. A high level of distrust and lack of entre-

i totui, pe de alt parte And yet, on the other hand...

Un ora de blocuri rspndit ca o tumoare

extinderea prin cartiere funcionaliste, iar n style ensembles, functionalist neighbor-

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Though apartments specifically aimed at

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Oraul vechi Cortina de beton

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drept investiii; potenialul de cointeresa-

Studiu de caz: o poriune din Calea Moilor. Rezerve de

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Urban Activation Of Public Space

funciuni i actori indic

O secven de spaii publice active

A matrix with different

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Vizualizarea unei posibile

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Definirea unui spaiu