Atelier Amzei 13

Authors’ Comment

Located in the heart of Piața Amzei, in an emblematic interwar modernist building, Atelier Amzei 13 proposes a minimal but significant transformation of five interior spaces into an open, flexible, and inclusive cultural center.

The word “atelier” was chosen to reflect the spirit of a living, continuously transforming space dedicated to creation, collaboration, and dialogue. It evokes both the tradition of artistic craftsmanship and openness to contemporary practices, defining an informal yet rigorous place where ideas take shape and develop organically, in a continuous process of cultural exploration.

The concept values the sober identity of the former “Yellow City Hall,” preserving the strict geometry and monumental presence of the building, while introducing subtle, reversible interventions that humanize the spaces and invite creative exploration.

Each space receives its own identity, discreetly signaled through a distinct but coherent chromatic palette — inspired by the building’s historical and functional codes. The spaces are named after their updated functions — Lobby, Forum, Display, Gallery, Library — and are connected through a unified system of design, modular furniture, contemporary signage, and adaptable lighting.

The access space, the Lobby, becomes a central node for orientation and socialization, coded in yellow, the historical color of the former city hall. The Forum — the main event hall — gains a strong identity through red, the symbolic color of the center, becoming a space with endless possibilities, facilitated by the lighting system, flexible furniture, and curtains. Display (green) and Gallery (blue) propose flexible setups for exhibitions, conferences, and installations, while the Library (brown) offers a sober and warm space for study, bookstore, and café functions.

The interventions propose sustainable, durable solutions, realized as much as possible with local producers — customized furniture, discreet equipment, natural materials, and carefully considered lighting systems, all designed not to undermine the authority of the original architecture. The furniture does not compete with the space but complements it, respecting the floor geometry, the rigor of the structural grid, and architectural axes.

Atelier Amzei 13 is an infrastructure that supports artists, an integrated cultural platform in the city’s life, honoring the past but dedicated to new forms of expression, dialogue, and community.