2026 The Garden of University House, Bucharest

The Romanian Order of Architects (OAR) and the Contracting Authority – the University of Bucharest, are glad to announce the official launch of ”the Garden of University House, Bucharest” International Design Competition.

The purpose of this design competition is to select the best design for the refunctionalization and activation of the existing auxiliary buildings in the courtyard of the University House, the enhancement and refunctionalization of the old greenhouses and the restoration of the garden of the University House in Bucharest, in accordance with the contemporary needs of use, in order to award the design contract.

The University House and its garden represent an ensemble of remarkable urban, architectural and landscape value, located in a central area of Bucharest, with exceptional potential. However, the current state of the site reflects a series of major issues that affect its functionality, accessibility and integration into the life of the city. All these dysfunctions affect the character of this site. In this context, the ensemble faces significant risks regarding the conservation of heritage, in a period when, generally, the pressures of urban development can permanently compromise important historical landmarks. The lack of coherent and qualitative interventions threatens not only the physical integrity of the site, but also its potential to be reactivated as a cultural, social and educational space for the city.

However, the current situation offers a rare opportunity: to completely rethink this space with the help of an integrated project, which responds to both the needs and requirements of heritage protection and those of sustainable development of the contemporary city. In this sense, the design competition becomes an essential tool for a coherent, quality intervention, which enhances the site and restores its urban and cultural relevance.

The brief invites competitors to find solutions that transform the garden of the University House and the annexed buildings into a multifunctional space for cultural and educational activities, through a holistic approach that targets the entire garden, relations with the neighborhoods, and the refunctionalization of the annexed buildings on the site. Through this initiative, the garden of University House can become a model of responsible urban regeneration, in which the architectural intervention serves both the heritage and the community, contributing to the quality of life and the sustainable development of the neighborhood.

The Contracting Authority of the competition is the University of Bucharest, the beneficiary of the project which will be contracted following the 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, 2018, rev. 2025), 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 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.