112 – MT1468 – BLOCHER PARTNERS GMBH

Concept:

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.

Architectural interventions:

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 concept aims to enhance the intrinsic order already present on the site without disturbing the existing natural and industrial balance. The interventions will emphasize rather than mask the industrial quality of the old buildings, allowing for a subtle dialog between the new guiding elements and the pre-existing structures.

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.

All interventions will be phased, flexible and adaptable to the needs of the community. These include low-impact sports fields, urban gardening, dedicated areas for farmers‘ markets and children‘s playgrounds. These spaces will be integrated in a sensitive and natural way without disturbing the ecological or architectural balance of the site.

Through this phased and flexible approach, the site will become a place of community revitalization and active recreation.

The former thermal power station has been given a special role due to its central position within the site, at the intersection of the main green pedestrian axes. Due to this strategic location, the area around the C26 building has been carefully landscaped, avoiding the creation of residual spaces, so that the whole perimeter is activated and coherently integrated into the overall flow of the site.

A special element within this central core is the natural swimming pool, irrigated by the Timiș River, which marks the reference point and epicenter of the site, providing both an ecological function and a point of attraction for visitors.

The C26 building houses a technical museum, reflecting the industrial heritage of the site, as well as an information point, facilitating orientation and understanding of the whole site. The tall smokestack of the plant serves as an iconic element and visual landmark, drawing visitors to the center of the site: a kind of architectural beacon. The intervention also proposes to open up the median corridor within the C25 complex.

This area, while retaining its main structural elements, will be transformed into an community garden allowing local residents to engage in outdoor activities and grow their own produce. Residents thus have the opportunity to grow plants and vegetables in dedicated plots, with the possibility to sell the grown produce at the farmers‘ market located adjacent to the garden.

This market acts as a buffer zone between the urban garden and the center of the site, but also as a vital connector, preventing the emergence of unused space on the south side of the former C26 thermal power plant.The maintained halls within the C25 complex are designed to be flexible due to their impressive size, allowing them to be used for a variety of functions.

They can serve as indoor courts for sports, exhibition spaces or other cultural and community events. Hall C25b may be annexed at a later stage and converted into an educational center dedicated to manufacturing and crafts, responding to the training and professional development needs of the local community.

The revival project aims to preserve the memory of the industrial heritage without artificially „sanitizing“ the site. Instead of excessive restoration, which would erase the authentic traces of history, the project focuses on preserving and highlighting the signs of the passage of time, turning them into a defining element of the site‘s identity.

The site is intended to retain its patina of time, allowing visitors to experience the industrial heritage without blurring it through artificial interventions. Thus, the reactivation and reuse of the „Rulmentul“ site not only preserves the existing heritage, but will transform it into a valuable and living resource for present and future generations, connecting the industrial history with the future of the city.

The main architectural intervention consists in removing the building envelopes, in particular the C25a annex and the first „ship“ of the C15c hall, in order to expose the resistance structures and create a buffer space where nature can interweave with the proposed uses. These spaces, both open and enclosed at the same time, act as a guiding platform, which can be supplemented with modular elements as the site evolves in function.

This creates a permeable intermediary zone between the exterior and the interior, allowing nature to penetrate inside the buildings and guiding visitors naturally. The circulation flow thus becomes fluid and continuous, linking the C25 complex to Hangar 6.

Hangar 6:

Hangar 6 is divided into three interconnected areas, each with a distinct character, but all designed to host events of different sizes. This flexible organization allows quick adaptation to different types of activities.

Annexes adjacent to the complex will be removed. The first nave of 15c will be stripped out, with the main structure remaining intact, forming an intermediary space between nature and the interior. In the interior the only intervention will be the introduction of a platform / services spine for circulation, galleries and private and secondary spaces. The longitudinal foyer creates an internal axis combining easy access to the café, library, rehearsal rooms, and the multifunctional hall. The foyer can be activated as an events hall, the large staircase for access to the upstairs platform, can function as an auditorium. The three areas are joined by a median platform, inserted as a spine connecting and separating them at the same time.

This platform functions as a guiding and organizing element, allowing a fluid transition between the spaces while maintaining the possibility of independent use of each area. The halls can be connected or separated by elements such as movable walls or theater curtains mounted on the existing hall structure. This modular and interconnected organization makes Hangar 6 a dynamic and versatile cultural centre, capable of adapting to the varying needs of the community and the city, providing a setting that can evolve with the events it hosts.

These architectural interventions transform the site into a place where the boundaries between nature and architecture blur, creating a dynamic and organic relationship between the natural environment and human activities. The flexibility provided by the modular platforms and buffer spaces ensures that the site can evolve over time while remaining adaptable, inviting visitors to explore and interact with all its elements.