Industrial Site Rulmentul Brașov
Freelance work - collaboration with Blocher Partners and Planstatt Senner for the open competition "Rulmentul Brasov" - the transformation of a large scale industrial complex in Brașov, Romania.
The transformation project of the former industrial site „Rulmentul“ aims primarily to revive this space through an integrated approach in the existing natural landscape, preserving and enhancing the green links already present. These green pathways, composed of spontaneous vegetation and natural elements, will be maintained and managed in a non-invasive way, creating a fluid transition between nature and the built space. Instead of being subjected to rigid intervention, they will be allowed to evolve in an organic manner, respecting nature‘s own rhythm.
The revitalization of the site aims not only at the ecological and architectural regeneration of the space, but also at its reanimation through programmatic activities and functions designed to attract and integrate all age groups of the inhabitants of the surrounding neighborhoods. The site is designed to become a community hub, where cultural, recreational and educational activities will take place, accessible to young and old alike. The spaces will be flexible and will be able to host a variety of events such as workshops, exhibitions, children‘s recreation areas as well as quiet spaces for relaxation and socializing.
A central element of this transformation is the creation of pedestrian and cycle routes, which will facilitate connectivity and stimulate sustainable mobility. The routes will be harmoniously integrated into the existing vegetation and provide easy access to all areas of the site, encouraging active movement, either on foot or by bicycle. Thus an essential intervention of the project is the realization of a special bicycle bridge, which will link the site directly to the Tractorul neighborhood. This bridge will become not only a functional infrastructure element, but also a symbol of connectivity and integration of the site into the surrounding urban fabric. It will facilitate safe and direct access for residents to the new facilities, thereby reducing reliance on motorized transportation and promoting an active and environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Another important intervention is the complex network of alleyways and trails that will not only connect the site to neighbouring neighborhoods, but also extend connections to a renaturation project on the other side of the Timis River. In this way, the site will not operate in isolation, but will become part of a wider network of green spaces and renewable areas, activating the whole region.
The architectural project aims to create a living, dynamic and inclusive space where residents of all ages can interact, enjoy nature and actively participate in community life. This approach not only revives an abandoned industrial site but transforms it into a center of social cohesion and urban regeneration. The proposal includes a carefully thought-out solution for integrating vehicular traffic, with an emphasis on prioritizing pedestrian and cycling circulation. In this respect, the category 2 road has been minimally diverted to the east, thus avoiding the creation of a major barrier within the site. This adjustment allows to maintain a fluid and accessible flow for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, favoring connectivity and accessibility over motorized traffic.
To minimize the visual and physical impact of cars, parking spaces have been strategically located under trees at the western entrance to the site and at the south side of building C25b, and, a special access has been created on the north road to allow deliveries to Hangar 6 and the event space adjacent to Hangar 5, as well as for transportation of school, resident artists and administrative staff serving the cultural center.Two important buildings on the site, C25 and Hangar 6, will be transformed to become permeable: by creating large openings and removing physical barriers, nature will be encouraged to enter and traverse the built space. Vegetation will be able to ‚flow‘ through these structures, blurring the boundaries between inside and outside, artificial and natural. This fusion will create a unique environment, where nature and architecture coexist in harmony, offering a revitalized, dynamic and ecological space.
New architectural interventions will be reduced, with the main aim of clarifying circulation and maintaining existing industrial structures. The fundamental objective of the project is to create a guided route that will naturally interweave the existing vegetation and circulation networks, leading to the central element of the site: a flexible and multifunctional cultural center located in Hangar 6. This center will become the heart of cultural and community activities, adaptable to diverse needs and events
The project also aims to avoid excessive and reductive museumification of the industrial site, focusing instead on reviving it through reactivation and reuse. The aim is to create a living and dynamic space, not to be preserved strictly as a historical relic, but to become a place that is flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the local population and the city. Instead of being a mere object of passive admiration, the site will be transformed into a functional space, which both residents and tourists can actively appropriate and use.
