2024 Colentina Lakes, 2^nd District, Bucharest

The Romanian Order of Architects (OAR), with the support of OAR Bucharest Territorial Branch, together with the Contracting Authority – the 2^nd District of the Municipality of Bucharest, are glad to announce the official launch of the „Colentina Lakes, 2^nd District, Bucharest” International Design Competition.

Considering the extent and diversity of the Implementation area and taking into account the different design challenges, the Contracting Authority, together with OAR, decided to resort to the award of public procurement contracts by lots and decided to divide the implementation area of the competition into three lots as follows:

• Lot 1:  Tei (1,2) and Plumbuita (1) Lakes, between Calea Floreasca și Șoseaua Petricani Road, with an implementation area of 28,59 ha (285.963,2 sqm);
• Lot 2: Plumbuita (2) Lake, between Șoseaua Petricani road and Șoseaua Colentina road, including part of Valea Saulei, up to the administrative border of Bucharest, with an implementation area of 27.46 ha (274,639.1 sqm);
• Lot 3:  Colentina River and Lake, Fundeni (1,2) Lake, Dobroești (1,2) Lake, part of Pantelimon Lake (up to Șoseaua Pantelimon road), with an implementation area of 48,84 ha (488.444 sqm).

The aim of the competition is to select the three best design solutions for each lot in order to contract the design services for the lakeshore development of the six Colentina lakes.

The competition concerns the shores of the six Colentina lakes, included in the 2^nd District of Bucharest: Tei lake (80 ha), Plumbuita lake (55 ha), Colentina lake (29 ha), Fundeni lake (123 ha), Dobroești lake (also called Pantelimon I, 120 ha), Pantelimon lake (also called Pantelimon II, 260 ha). These are part of a system of 15 lakes (generically called “salba de lacuri” – “Lake necklace”) formed along the Colentina River, of which ten lakes are in the administrative territory of Bucharest, in the northern part, in the NW-SE direction. These ten lakes, six of which are located in the 2^nd District, constitute a valuable natural resource of ecological regeneration, representing a significant identity mark of the city.

The aim of the competition is to redefine the role of these lakeshores, regarded both as a natural resource with a great ecological, sanitary, aesthetic & landscape, economic and social potential for the district/city, as well as an active interface between the established urban fabric or under development and the water of the Colentina lakes, as an element of attraction for the inhabitants.

Consequently, the Contracting Authority aims through this competition to develop the landscaping of the Colentina lakeshores over the entire length comprised in the 2^nd District, in order to (1) restore the continuity of the public path on the shores by creating a green-blue promenade  (generically referred to as the blue-green corridor) that offers local support and various recreational and social activities, and integrates harmoniously within the existing natural environment and (2) improve the relationship between the lake shores and the urban surroundings through local arrangement proposals.

The Contracting Authority of the competition is The 2^nd District of the Municipality of Bucharest, the administrator of the objectives that will be the object of the investment, which will become the beneficiary of the projects contracted as a result of this competition.

The competition is organized by the Romanian Order of Architects (OAR), in accordance with the OAR Good Practices Guide for Design Competitions (edited in Romanian – Ghidul de bune practici în organizarea concursurilor de soluții OAR, rev. 2022), in compliance with the provisions of the legislation in force regarding the award of public procurement contracts. The Design Competition is a public, single-stage competition, open to Romania, all countries of the European Union, of the European Economic Area, and to the Swiss Confederation. The design competition is organized as an independent procedure, in accordance with art. 105 letter b) of Law no. 98/2016 regarding public procurement, and subsequently, pursuant to provisions under art. 104 para. (7) of the same law, the design services contract is to be awarded to the winner of the competition, following a negotiation procedure without prior publication of a participation announcement.