Cultural laboratory for heritage studies in the historic center of Brașov

Authors’ Comment

Heritage lies at the core of a community’s identity, embodying its memory, values, and creative will. A deep connection to tradition is not merely an anchor to the past, but also a source of continuity and meaning in the present. Heritage takes shape through both tangible objects and intangible elements—customs, practices, and rituals passed down from generation to generation. The cultural laboratory for heritage studies responds to this need for rootedness and offers the community an opportunity to reflect on its heritage through spaces dedicated to research, restoration, and artistic creation inspired by traditional craftsmanship techniques. Its activities address both professionals—through specialized workspaces—and the public, via exhibitions and workshops that encourage interaction with the various forms and expressions of heritage.

The proposal is set within a historic building in the center of Brașov—the city’s first civic hospital—which today stands in an advanced state of decay. This building is a symbol in the city’s collective memory, a permanence in the urban landscape. Therefore, the project proposes the rehabilitation and extension of the ensemble with the aim of opening it to the public. The intervention engages with the city’s historical fragments through symmetries and analogies, reiterating the defining elements of the traditional urban fabric: a contained, hidden courtyard; a narrow passage leading to the interior; framed viewpoints toward the courtyard; and peripheral circulation galleries. The project aims not only to rehabilitate a building, but also to strengthen memory, identity, and cultural continuity.