Residences for Artists on Straja Hill, Brașov

Authors’ Comment

The project proposes the construction of a housing and studio complex for artists on Straja Hill, designed to support and foster Brașov’s creative community. From medieval guilds and Hans Mattis-Teutsch’s avant-garde movement to recent events like the Amural Festival, the city has always possessed a strong visual identity, yet it lacks a dedicated space to bring creators together.
The initiative balances private workspaces with community areas, encouraging dialogue and the emergence of fresh local ideas. Located near the Citadel on Straja Hill, the site connects this historical monument to the city through architecture and pedestrian pathways, extending the cultural route of Brașov’s promenades.
The proposal engages the existing urban fabric, which previously ended abruptly, and provides a coherent resolution via a courtyard that acts as a visual terminus for the street, while curbing unchecked urban sprawl toward the protected area. In this way, the project mediates the transition from the residential fabric to the monument’s protection zone, following the natural slope of the terrain and maintaining a respectful distance from the heritage site.
The new intervention draws upon the architectural typology of the area, integrating into the morphology of the detached villas that began urbanizing the hill after the dismantling of the old fortifications. The complex consists of three residential volumes positioned as standalone architectural objects, allowing surrounding vegetation to flow freely around them. Arranged around a new square, these three volumes are interconnected by a distribution corridor. The central courtyard thus takes on a dual purpose, organizing access to the residential units while serving as a common gathering space.
The composition is completed by a fourth volume dedicated to shared workshops and exhibition spaces, creating a discreet transition between the square and the cultural path leading up to the Citadel. Through this functional mix, the development operates across two complementary dimensions: a private realm, where the residential blocks house living quarters and individual studios, and a public realm, activated by the exhibition spaces. This duality ensures the permeability of the complex, serving as a catalyst for artist interaction while resolving the monument’s isolation from the city.