Student housing and public functions in a central protected area of Bucharest

Authors’ Comment

On Tudor Arghezi street, in the central area of Bucharest, we find a site surrounded by the rich history, in a protected historical area that represents the essence of the architectural approach. The proposal comes in response to a need observed in the whole city, there is a significant shortage of accommodation compared to the very large number of students. The intervention will take over the role of mediator between the public space and the private space, but also between the Haussmannian type fabric and the traditional diffuse one.

The main approach refers to two former buildings that existed on the site, built between 1860 and 1870 they were demolished in 2010, the southern one being a kindergarten. Thus, the central spaces that organized the former buildings become part of the composition by introducing two ordering courtyards. These courtyards add a well-needed public space to the area, encouraging a dialogue between people and the city, thanks to the two gangways. The accommodations spaces are oriented toward the bigger courtyard and the street, while complementary spaces are facing the smaller courtyards. The ground floor dissolves in the direction of the street, meeting the visitors with a portico that leads to the core of the building, a courtyard that communicates with flexible rooms, and a cafe. These spaces can be adapted by divining and opening following the needs of the users.

The proposed building wishes to integrate students from different fields, in order to become a landmark for the academic public but also to fulfill the need of belonging to a community and to the city itself. Therefore, the hybrid function blends the public program with the residential one, an answer in accordance with the characteristic typology of the area.