24 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF ROMANIAN HERITAGE AND COMMUNITIES
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After collecting information about the building – historical study – analysis of materials – geotechnical study – topographic survey – technical expertise – we can determine what we can do with it and how. It is natural for the architect to help establish the direction, but it is good to keep in mind that any building is used by people and therefore the establishment of the DESIGN THEME should be done while consulting its users, and the architect should be the conductor and moderator of the received ideas. The architect’s job is to harmonize the desires and needs of use with the constraints resulting from the first stage of analysis. Thus, the diagnosis shows where the problems that need to be remedied lie, what are the valuable elements that need to be preserved, what are the constraints related to materials and technique. In the case of the Neamțu Manor, for example, the Roman mosaic on the first floor is an extremely valuable element that must be preserved, so that any intervention on the floor of the rooms with mosaic on them must be avoided.
In order to reach a Design Theme dedicated to the Neamţu Manor from Olari, we consulted children who regularly participate in non-formal heritage education workshops. We considered them to be the main future users of the site and, consequently, their opinion very important. We have prepared a series of kit materials through which we conducted this investigation.
What the children want:
After the consultative phase, the role of the architect intervenes, who selects from these points of view what is possible and what is more difficult or not at all appropriate. In the case of the Neamțu mansion, solar panels are not an option because they alter the architecture – which all the “beneficiaries” (the children from the local community participating in the non-formal heritage education workshops) want to preserve.
Architect-client cooperation is essential for the end result to meet the needs of users. Even if some requirements seem fanciful and childish, the architect is the one who will know (should know) to translate them into concrete and realistic elements.
We Like the Project Catalog București (Bucharest Catalog) developed by ARCEN
In March 2017, the Romanian Association for Culture, Education and Normality (ARCEN) launched the Bucharest Catalog project, the first inventory of all the buildings in the historical areas of the capital scheduled to run run between March 2017 and November 2020 developed by volunteers and specialized architects, urban planners and historians, and will target the 98 protected city areas.
The project is urgent, necessary and useful because at the moment, the built heritage of Bucharest (over 14,500 buildings) is in an advanced state of degradation, hundreds of buildings are in a state of collapse or pre-collapse and represent real public threats.
The goal is to make an online platform that includes inventory of all properties in the 98 protected areas, tens of thousands of data and photos, analyses, and statistics available to state institutions, industry specialists and city dwellers.
http://www.arcen.info/portfolio/catalog-bucuresti/
We Like the Project “SoNoRo Conac”!
In 2013, the Sonoro Association started a new project – SoNoRo Conac, whose aim is to highlight the need for respect, attention and support for Romania’s extraordinary cultural heritage and resources by associating music with the architectural masterpieces in Romania. They performed concerts in heritage buildings such as Bran Castle, Petre P. Carp Mansion (Ţibăneşti, Iaşi County), Teleki Palace, Gorneşti, Udrişte-Năsturel Mansion, Hereşti.
SoNoRo Conac grew from the idea of resetting chamber music in its original space of an intimate nature, ideal for cultural dialogue and active listening in front of a small audience. This project aims to raise public awareness wit respect to the multitude of rehabilitated heritage buildings – fabulous, spectacular, elegant buildings that need to be reintroduced into the cultural circuit.
We like the French association Rempart which provides social insertion and trains volunteers for the restoration sites of historical monuments in France and abroad.
The Network of Associations in the Benefit of Heritage / L’union d’associations de sauvegarde, du patrimoine et d’éducation populaire – Rempart, France joins us in the workshops held at Carp Manor in Țibănești, Iași County.
We really like the complex project Grădina istorică (Historic Garden) created by Ierburi uitate (Forgotten Herbs) in collaboration with the Botanical Garden Dimitrie Brândză, University of Bucharest (opened in 1860!).
The authors of the project launched in September 2017 at the Botanical Garden reveal a bit of their concept to us:
”At the end of the field, after the amphitheater area where we plan to organize garden activities starting from spring, we designed a clearing. Now, of course, there is not much of it there, just barren ground, tiller hoed and finely raked, but a few days ago, after we finally got the seeds, we sowed our first plants on this patch.
The clearing will host a few bee hives and insect hotel, and for them as well as for us, we sowed a mixture of annual and perennial flowers only a few days ago, chosen to grow both in the sun and in the shade.
We selected a few dozen species, among which many melliferous plants are included (…): Erysimum, Malcolmia, Silene, Coreopsis, Eschscholzia, Alyssum, Saponaria, Cerastium, Bidens, Dracopis, Sanvitalia, Achillea, Borago, Papaver, Malva, Lathyrus, Digitalis, Aquilegia, Viola, Lobelia, Campanula, Mirabilis, Dianthus, Echium, Phacelia, Reseda, Myosotis, Lychnis, Centaurea, Oenothera, Lupine, Anethum, Lunaria, Cosmos. As you see, many of our insects will enjoy the best them from the first days of spring to late autumn.”
More details here:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gr%C4%83dina-Istoric%C4%83/1343799599082433?hc_ref=ARQfRC6xTlN1XNeCzL9SMlFtN-pTh8ngcoL4A-vQg0fJiiNUxxWPA7oahDvY4GbR2xo
Work in progress: http://www.gradinaistorica.ro/
We like the French from Les Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France for the way they preserve, arrange and pass on traditional crafts that help save and rebuild the tangible heritage.
Pro Patrimonio has been working with Les Compagnons du Devoir since 2007 at the traditional craft workshop/school at P.P. Carp Manor from Ţibăneşti, Iaşi County.
http://www.compagnons-du-devoir.com/
We like the project Ambulance for Monuments created and implemented by architect Eugene Vaida, president of the Monumentum from Alțâna, jud. Sibiu (link http://asociatiamonumentum.ro/cms/).
Ambulance for Monuments is a pilot project that aims to act effectively for safeguarding the intangible heritage by securing the objectives of major assets that are in bad condition or structural precollapse.
details here http://ambulanta-pentru-monumente.ro/
Wednesday, November 6, 2019, 6:30 pm in the Nod makerspace, MATER hall – Library of Materials in Splaiul Unirii no.160, we invite you to the opening of the photo exhibition “Forgotten textures: Inter-war Bucharest”, launch of the guide “Forgotten textures: Inter-war Bucharest . Plastering recipe book” and the collection of historical plaster samples.
This moment marks the end of an eight-month project where the Pro Patrimonio Foundation has researched four types of inter-war facade plastering: simili stone, mosaic, terracotta and stone dust plaster.
Inspired by the city of Bucharest, the project explored the “secrets” of the Modernist facades in the capital made between 1918 and 1940. A first stage involved library research to document the recipes of inter-war plaster mortars and their way of use – specific to Romania, but also comparisons with techniques from the same period from other countries. In parallel, these textures were photographically inventoried on the field, and in September a series of practical workshops were held to test the documented recipes and application techniques on 60x60cm samples in order to preserve and revitalize the old techniques / technologies.
During the days of the European Cultural Heritage we organized a series of guided tours to observe the lot left over from Modernist buildings in Bucharest and we prepared practical site tests with the mason invited by the Maison Paysanne de France Association, Patrice Leu, specialized in traditional techniques. From the discussions carried out in the workshops and the debate on the forgotten texts of Modernist architecture, we have come to some conclusions also supported by our guest:
The result of this research period is a recipe guide, six plaster samples recreated in today’s context and a series of photographic observations of the city’s textures made by the architect Andrei Mărgulescu. The project aims to be a first step in the study of Modernist finishes in Romania. This is an original step of the period after 1989 and, at the same time, a direct invitation to all parties involved in the field of construction and architecture to continue the investigations.
“The searches were determined by the personal interest for the historical texts of the city and by a concrete case of restoration in which I was involved. These have materialized, within the Pro Patrimonio Foundation, in a research adventure. The guide was born due to the lack of specialized documentation in the field of constructions in Romania that could provide information on the typology of inter-war plastering”. – architect Ruxandra Sacaliş, the author of the recipe guide.
The guide contains useful information, both theoretical and practical, about materials, ingredients, recipes, finishing techniques, decorative textures and work tools, common degradation. The Forgotten Textures: Inter-war Bucharest. Plastering recipe is intended for practical use and will be available in a small print series, but also in a digital version. Also, the recipe guide aims to be an instrument of awareness for the general public and specialists in the field in relation to the cultural and historical significance of inter-war plasters.
“The plastering recipe book of Ruxandra Sacaliş and the working team represents a very interesting and useful step for the restoration and maintenance of heritage built during the inter-war period. The honesty of the participating teams’ approach – masters and architects – develops a future extended process and a communication system adequate to give a real chance to a still surviving culture of the built Bucharest still has and that we can enrich. The experiment and the research can be done in small groups, with different professions which communicate well with each other. I invite you to try it, it is a chance for the future architectural textures that we all need. Attention, the domain is inexhaustible. ” – architect Şerban Sturdza, project manager.
A Pro Patrimonio Foundation Project
Project manager: architect Șerban Sturdza
Documenting coordinator: arch. Ruxandra Sacaliș
Practical workshop coordinator: Arch. Andreea Machidon
Photo documentation: architect Andrei Mărgulescu
Guide editor: Mirela Duculescu
Graphic Design: Mona Petre
A cultural project co-financed by AFCN. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project can be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the financing.
Partners: Cella Cosimex, The Institute for Speleology, Hasit, Node makerspace, MATER hall – Library of Materials, Theda Mar and the Technical University for Constructions, Bucharest.
Resources
Facebook event http://bit.ly/Tencuieli
Attached photos
Picture 01 – Collage of combed, polished, sharpened interwoven textures and decorative profile …. Photo credit: Andrei Mărgulescu
Picture 02 – Example Spread of the Guide Plaster Recipe
Roşia Montană – Cultural Landscape, Heritage, Environment and Mining
Pro Patrimonio Foundation has been actively involved in efforts to recognize the unique universal value of the historic site of Roşia Montană (Alba County). Among other actions, it supported the financing of the archeology report written in 2010 by British expert archaeologists from Oxford and Leicester universities.
Pro Patrimonio Foundation consistently supported the inclusion of Roşia Montană on the UNESCO heritage list and in 2013 suggested its inclusion in Europe Nostra’s 7 most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe program.
On 4 January 2017 The Ministry of Culture sent the Roşia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape to UNESCO. Peisajul Cultural Minier Roșia Montană. Submitting the file for the World Heritage list was made with the fully responsible action of Minister of Culture Corina Şuteu, after informing and consulting with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The protection of our national heritage is one of the main responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture and falls within its fundamental prerogatives. Roşia Montană’s submission to UNESCO ends a process started in 2011 (when the National Commission of Historic Monuments officially recommended the Ministry of Culture to include Roşia Montană on the UNESCO heritage list) and continued during Dacian Cioloş’s government mandate, adding in February 2016 Roşia Montană to Romania’s Indicative List for UNESCO. ”
(extract, Ministry of Culture, January 4, 2017, https://rosiamontana.world/
Updated news about the ongoing process to include the Roşia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape in the UNESCO World Heritage List, its stages and evolution can be found at https://rosiamontana.world/, , a website implemented by the Romanian National Heritage Institute.
Pro Patrimonio Foundation gives some brief info on this subject (1999-2013):
A private company (Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, abbreviated to RMGC) has conceded the right of exploitation from the Romanian state and proposes an open-pit mining project. The project was proposed in 1999, and has not yet been able to obtain the necessary legal clearing and approvals to start work. Why? Because the project does not comply with the Romanian legislation, because it represents a great threat to the environment and because much of the exploitation would take place on private property plots. The history of this project and the notices canceled in Court http://rosiamontana.org/node/291
The silence of the press well as the acceptance of the project by politicians were bought by the private company. http://stirile.rol.ro/rosia-montana-cati-bani-a-primit-presa-de-la-rmgc-in-ultimii-ani-889925.html
what televisions are advertising the mining project
Here are some comments and remarks about press reports
http://uzp.org.ro/proiectul-rosia-montana-submineaza-credibilitatea-presei/
Foreign press reports http://totb.ro/protestele-pentru-rosia-in-presa-straina/
What has civil society been doing these past years?
Alburnus Maior is the association of locals and owners from Roşia Montană established in September 2002 to organize planned steps to stop the mining project proposed by RMGC. Through its ongoing work, Alburnus Maior coordinates what is today the largest social and environmental campaign in Romania. In support of this, many organizations, institutions, artists, journalists, as well as members of civil society of all ages and from social status in Romania and abroad have joined together.
http://rosiamontana.org/
In addition to campaigns for public information, monitoring of authorities, protests and legal actions, the Fân Fest Festivals are being promoted annually to promote the values of the area http://www.fanfest.ro/
What began as a protest festival in 2004, FânFest has become a distinct cultural space in support of environmental and social rights and the sustainable development of Roşia Montană – thus becoming the emblem of social and environmental movements in Romania over the last decade.
Adopt a Roşia Montană House is a program to rescue the cultural heritage and the traditional community in Roşia Montană and the neighboring villages. The program is initiated by Alburnus Maior, the local association dedicated to protecting the rights of Roşia Montană community members in partnership with ARA – Architecture. Restoration. Archeology, an active association in the field of research, conservation and value of cultural heritage for the benefit of communities and society.
http://www.adoptaocasa.ro/
http://www.e-zeppelin.ro/Ctrl-S-Rosia-Montana-Arhitectura-prin-voluntariat
In 2013, Roşia Montana was included in Europe Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered program. The file that was the basis of the joint proposal of the signing organizations, assumed by Europa Nostra and the partner banks by including them on the 7 monuments list includes a structured action plan in 10 different directions to which concrete projects correspond. The plan aims to contribute effectively to preserving the cultural heritage of the site through research and documentation, through direct conservation and correct value assessment. The planned actions, together with the involvement of the local community, will generate a huge impact both on the professional fields and on the public at local, national and international level. The plan will help maintain and increase community revenue while protecting biodiversity and the value of internationally recognized habitats that have sustained the traditional community.
http://www.simpara.ro/rosia-montana-o-preocupare-europeana-553.html
http://www.europanostra.org/7-most-endangered/
What began street protests on September 1, 2013
POn 27 August 2013 the government approved the draft law related to measures regarding to the gold-silver mining exploitation in the Roşia Montană perimeter and the stimulation and facilitation of development of mining activities in Romania.
See the draft Here
At least 20 points inlaw repeating the phrase “by exception / derogation from legal directives” make this project unconstitutional and particularly dangerous
The map of protests started on 1 September 2013
See here the claims of the protesters: LINK
Școala-atelier de meșteșuguri pe șantierul de la Țibănești
Since 2006 a cultural program called “Batem fierul la conac !” (“Hitting the iron at the manor”) was initiated at the Petre P. Carp Manor in Ţibăneşti, Iaşi County. The program includes a series of workshops for traditional crafts and experimental techniques and is coordinated by Asociația Maria in partnership with Pro Patrimonio Foundation. All activities grouped around the P.P. Carp Manor make up a school for crafts designed primarily for the villagers from Ţibăneşti, but also for all aware of the value of cultural heritage and the need to pass on it to their children. The historical complex of national importance Petre P. Carp from Ţibăneşti consists of a manor, a church, a mausoleum and the auxiliary building. The dendrological park was not returned and remains in the administration of local authorities. More about the complex and program here:
The program addressed the students from the faculties of architecture, restoration, art, construction, archeology, photography, to local people, specialists, as well as those interested in the subject is an alternative to standard educational offers . The workshop is supported by the presence of the Mraz Fotopoetika School – lectures, projections and exhibitions, which poetically “maps” the activities and cultural landscape of Ţibăneşti.
“In the manor workshops we have learned not to seek universal prescriptions and formulas, but to consider each case independently, to see how important the context a material is used in is, the fact that it must be modeled properly while taking into account its properties, and allow our hands to imprint it and fill it with content, “says the organizer of the workshop, the Asociația Maria.
In September 2017, the association Carpenters Without Borders and a class of apprentice carpenters from Les Compagnons du Devoir and Tour de France in Rouen came to voluntarily restore the roofing of the Ţibăneşti ironwork shopthat had been under restoration for 10 years. The new roofing will allow us to create a new usable space. This will be an important aid for continuing the project in Ţibăneşti, in organizing courses and workshops dedicated to traditional crafts. The work process, starting with documenting how ash and oak log have been moved, studied and carved by craftsmen and apprentices, has been documented in an online workshop diary here:
https://tibanestiaocdtf.wixsite.com/mobilite2017
Details about the workshop and craft school at the P.P. Carp Manor from Ţibăneşti
