2022 Piața Sfatului – Brașov Central Square

The Romanian Order of Architects (OAR) in partnership with the Brașov-Covasna-Harghita OAR branch and the Municipality of Brașov are glad to announce the official launch of the ”Piața Sfatului – Brașov Central Square ” International Design competition.

The primary objective of the competition is that the Brașov City Hall contract the design services necessary for a good quality development of Piața Sfatului’s (Council Square) public space, in accordance with the values accumulated here over a long period of time.

Piața Sfatului (Council Square) is an exceptional cultural landmark that exceeds the geographical limits of the city. Beyond the significant attachment to place that it inspires – “the heart of the Citadel and the city”, as it is metaphorically called in the public debate process (OAR debate, March 11th, 2020) – Piata Sfatului (Council Square) comprises a historical and cultural heritage that must be understood and protected at their actual value.

The competition goal is that of formulating a design solution for the development of the public space that is respectful towards the built heritage, all layers of history present in this space, and that is in accordance with the valuable landscaping elements. The competition participants should explore the full potential of each of Piața Sfatului’s (Council Square) needs — retail, culture, leisure, entertainment, civic engagement, dwelling, and reinstate them, as a primary promise for the coherent development of the entire Citadel of Brașov.

The Contracting Authority is the Brașov Municipality, the owner and administrator of the public spaces that are the investment object, and which shall become the beneficiary of the contract resulted from this competition.

The Competition organizer is the Order of Architects of Romania (OAR), a professional organization with the mission of increasing the quality of the architectural-urban planning product and increasing the value that society attributes to these services, that are considered cultural endeavors of public interest. In this respect, OAR promotes professional policies and practices that enhance the value of built heritage and favor the production of a valuable architecture, regarded as fundamental fields for the quality of life.

The Design Competition is a public, single-stage competition, open to Romania, all countries of the European Union and 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 a) 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.