Hotel at Capidava

Authors’ Comment

The purpose of the work is to identify how we can capitalize on the archaeological heritage of Dobrogea in the perspective of sustainable tourism.
The vision is that of a chain of Roman fortifications that by association in the route enrich the tourist experience; at the same time, the perception of the ensemble ensures a better understanding of the fortifications - which would otherwise have been diminished when the objectives would have been strictly in their individuality.
In order to coagulate the route, it is necessary to create a tourist apparatus, which will represent the source of life of the services in this area and a coordinating point in the tourist route.Thus, the project contains functions such as: accommodation, food and equipment for sports.
The site envisaged for the project is located in Constanța county, near the Capidava fortification, at the water's edge, in a low elevation area and floodable every 10 years, the project aims to facilitate the accessibility of visitors from the water to the archaeological site, but also from the road. Therefore, the architectural proposal seeks to incorporate a path and a mechanism for this relationship. What is to be followed is the way in which the architectural intervention will relate to the archeological site and the particular characteristics of the land.
The proposal at the level of the ensemble and the site of the Capidava fortification is to complete the existing internal route with an external perimeter route that connects different points of interest such as the western gate with the arrangement of a viewpoint, the old port and the old Roman baths. This route is connected to the naval route by creating an appropriate mechanism, a connection from the water to Capidava and vice versa, while creating a place that offers a new perspective on the fortress.
When we talk about the volumetric concept, we must keep in mind that the future building must be kept below the visible limit, so as not to disturb the historical landscape. The volume is simple, consisting of heavy objects, the base, which is in the flood zone, the volume in the middle is light and crossed by access to water, the independent accommodation boxes that hide in the topography of the place and last but not least the sign, transparent and discreetly announcing an event occurring below the visible limit.
Materials such as wood for the light part and concrete for the heavy part are used to express the volumetric concept. Local materials such as stone are used in the accommodation area. The materiality of the volumes and their relationship with the land suggests the idea of stone blocks found in the ground, a reference to the way in which the ruins are discovered.