Promises

Facultatea de Arhitectură și Urbanism din Cluj-Napoca - Collective housing in peri-central area

Adriana Măgerușan

The teaching staff of the 3rd year of the Design Design course consisted of: prof. dr. arh. Dana Vais (coordinator and author of the design theme), asist. drd. arh. Mircea Dinculescu, prep. drd. arh. Rareș Drăgan, asist. drd. arh. Silviu Aldea, drd. arh. Adriana Măgerușan, arh. Marius Moga, arh. Csaba Müller, arh. Lucian Popa, arh. Camelia Sisak, arh. Attila Ungureanu.

The group of design professors for the third year: conf. dr. dr. arch. Dana Vais (coordinator and design theme author), assist. drd. arch. Mircea Dinculescu, prep. drd. arch. Rareș Drăgan, assist. drd. arch. Silviu Aldea, drd. arch. Adriana Măgerușan, arch. Marius Moga, arch. Csaba Müller, arch.Lucian Popa, arch. Camelia Sisak, arch. Attila Ungureanu.

The design workshop of the third year of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in Cluj has as its generic theme the urban relations of architecture. This theme underlies both the theme of a public building on a central site in the first semester and a theme of collective housing in a peri-central area in the second semester.
The design studio of the third year of study from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in Cluj-Napoca, have as a generic theme the urban relations of architecture. This theme includes both the first semester theme: public building on a central setting, and the second semester theme, collective housing in a peri-central site

team project George Croitor & Ovidiu-Dragoș Vîrșescu
In the case of the collective housing project, the sites proposed for study in the previous year were located in restructurable areas of the city, areas with a rather rural character, although located in the immediate vicinity of the city center. In fact, two of the sites proposed for study bordered the river Someș and claimed to respond to one of the favorite themes of Cluj architects: changing the city's relationship with water and turning Cluj towards the Someș. The aim of the exercise was to insert a contemporary architectural object by design into a destructured urban fabric and to create urban relationships that would reactivate these areas, which remained in a state of underdevelopment. Insertion in such a fabric is even more difficult than in a well-defined historical context with a clear architectural value, because there the urban constraints largely dictate the configuration of the insertion. In this case the students were asked not only to analyze the existing situation, but also to make a projection of how the area would develop, to determine the urban development anticipating the urban dynamics and at the same time preserving a certain spirit of place. Although, according to the new urban development plan now in the approval phase, the areas under study are entirely restructurable, a tabula rasa gesture would not support sustainable development. This is why projects that mitigated the urban impact of such a large-scale intervention by correctly negotiating the city's desirable scale and by a sensitive response that perpetuated the qualities of the site were appreciated. For example, George Croitor & Ovidiu-Dragoș Vîrșescu's project studied the highly fragmented current fabric, whose top image is vibrated by the multitude of shredded roofs, and interpreted this spirit of place in a contemporary architecture very well suited to living, through a volume faceted at the top, with loggia-like cutouts in the facade. The possibility of a phased construction of such a project is in line with the development possibilities of Cluj and maintains a scale appropriate to the city.
For the collective housing project, the locations given for study the previous year were situated in the re-structural areas of the city, areas with a rather rural character, although situated in the immediate neighbor of the town center. Even more, two of the locations suggested for study were near the Somes River and demanded an answer to one of the favorites themes of Cluj's architects: changing the city's relationship with the water and turning Cluj towards the water. The purpose of the exercise was to insert a contemporary architectural object, through design, in an urban de-structured tissue, and to create urban relations meant to re-activate these areas left in an underdeveloped state. The insertion in this kind of tissue is even more difficult than the an well defined historical context, because there, the urban constraints greatly dictate the insertions' configuration. In this case, students had to analyze not only the existing situation, but also to project the way the area will develop, to determine the urban development, anticipating urban dynamics and keeping a certain genius loci. Although according to the new PUG in the endorsement phase at this time, the studied areas are entirely restructurable, a tabula rasa-kind of attitude will not support the spirit of a sustainable development. This is why, projects that softened the urban impact of this kind of grand intervention through correct negotiation of the desirable scale of the city and also through a sensitive answer that perpetuates the qualities of the given style. For example, the George Croitor & Ovidiu-Dragoș Vîrșescu project, studied the current highly fragmented tissue, whose image from the sky is extremely fragmented by the multitude of small rooftops, and interpreting the spirit of the place in a contemporary architecture very suitable to inhabiting, through a faceted volume in the top part, with cutouts loggias-type loggias in the front. The possibility of phased construction of such project is consistent with the potential development of the city of Cluj and retains an appropriate scale.

team Lazar Csaba & Antal Zoltan Antal
In approaching the collective housing program, the working hypothesis was based on the scenario outlined by Jacques Attali for the years 2040-2050, in his essay Brief History of the Future. In his book, the author anticipates a shift in social categories, which will all become nomadic in one form or another. The project assignment asked students to design apartments to fit the social categories described by Attali: hypernomads, virtual nomads and infranomads. Hypernomazis are what Attali calls the most affluent, members of the creative and ruling classes. They are narcissistic and egocentric, have high incomes and an active and mobile life, own several homes, the one mentioned in the theme is only one of them, do not value family, but value culture and access to information, and learning is a necessity for them. Attali calls the middle class virtual nomads. They are "solvent consumers", they are relatively sedentary, they rarely move, and their nomadism lies in the precariousness of their situation as they are always "employable", they often work from home, they have several jobs, and their obsessions are security and leisure. Their housing, of average standard, medium or (relatively) large size, includes children's room(s) and/or workplace. The poorest class is represented by the infranomads, who are highly mobile, moving often in search of work or more affordable housing. In the scenario imagined by Attali these are the unskilled workers and immigrants, but in the case of the theme this category has been assimilated to students, whose transient status is linked to their time-limited status and whose (relative) precariousness makes them frequent movers. The student flats are minimal in size and also rely on socializing in shared spaces. These social categories were required to be mixed into a whole, avoiding the natural but harmful process of class segregation.
In addressing the collective housing program started from the working hypothesis outlined by Jacques Attali scenario for the years 2040-2050, in his essay A brief history of the future. The author predicts in his book a mutation in the social categories that will become nomad, one way or the other. The theme of the project demanded students to design apartaments suitable to the social categories depicted by Attali: hyper-nomads, virtual-nomads and infra-nomads. Hyper-nomads are defined by Attali the rich upper-class, members of the dominating class. They are narcissistic and egocentric, have high incomes, a mobile, active life and have more than one residence, the one requested in the project being just one of them. They do not value family, but, in exchange, they value culture and information access, and learning is a necessity to them. The middle class is named by Attali the virtual-nomads. They are the "solvent consumer", relatively sedentary, they rarely move and the nomad attitude consists of the precarious of their "perpetual employable state". They often work from home, have more than one job and obsess over spare-time and security. Their home, the average standard, medium size or (relatively) large, includes a children room or rooms and/or a work space. The poor class is represented by the infra-nomads, who are very mobile; they often move searching for a job or a more affordable house. In the scenario imagined by Attali, they are unskilled workers and immigrants, but for the sake of this theme, this particular category was assimilated to students, whose state of provisional status goes to their limited time status and whose (relatively) precarious situation has to do with their frequent moves. Students' flats have minimum space and look to socializing common spaces. These social categories had to be mixed into en ensemble, avoiding the natural yet harmful process of class segregation.

team Crenguța Hoza & Gabriela Olenici
An experiment of the theme was to approach the project from micro to macro. Contrary to the usual route of a project, which starts from the urban planning plans and develops, by zooming in, to the definition of the details, in this case the students started by focusing first on the unit, i.e. they first designed apartments suitable for each category, and then, assuming the immanent seriality of a large-scale housing project, they integrated the units into the housing complex.

As expected, housing for hyper- and infra-homomes were the favorite territories for experimentation and generated the most innovative responses. For example, the project of Crenguța Hoza & Gabriela Olenici proposed apartments for students with living spaces on the ground and first floors and private spaces on the next two floors, in a configuration of their own. The Lazar Csaba & Antal Zoltan team's project addressed an economically sustainable and very environmentally friendly solution for student housing. They were made of recyclable containers raised from the ground, connected by common spaces and interspersed with vegetation. These containers could be grouped together to serve as virtual nomads' living quarters, or they could be completely dismantled, proving their flexibility in use.
One of the experiments of the theme was approaching the project from micro to macro. Contrary to the usual course of a project, that starts from urbanism drawings and develop, through zooming, to defining details, in this case, students began focusing first focusing on the unit, meaning they conceived first flats suitable to each social category, and then assuming the seriality of a large-scale housing project, they had to integrate the units in the housing ensemble.

As expected, housing for hyper-nomads and those for infra-nomads, were the favorite territories of the experiments and generated the most innovative answers. For example, the project presented by the team Crenguța Hoza & Gabriela Olenici, suggests students' flats with day-spaces on the ground and first floor and private spaces on the next two levels, in a particular configuration. Team's Lazar Csaba & Antal Zoltan project, approached a sustainable, economic and very ecologic solution for the students' apartaments. They were realized from recycled containers, lifted from the ground, connected through common spaces cross-cut by vegetation. These containers can be regrouped to suit virtual-nomad living or they could be completely demolished, proving their flexibility.

team Călin Santa & Răzvan Stoian
Dan Ioanici & Laura Bacali team's solution carefully mixed the different social categories, generating quality interior spaces not only for hyper-nomads, but also for virtual nomads (families) and infranomads (students), as the theme demanded quality in the solution for all apartments, not just for the high standard ones. The interior spaces of the apartments were conceived in a happy relationship with private outdoor spaces and common spaces.

Because the premise of the project was that our way of life is in an accelerated process of transformation, the flexibility of the apartments could not be neglected. So each apartment had to be studied in different use scenarios, so as to allow for transformations according to the users, to be able to integrate a workspace in the home or even a small business. In other words, it was required to assume seriality in conditions of urban density, but avoiding simple real estate accumulation. In the study of the flexibility of apartments, the project of Călin Santa & Răzvan Stoian team is noteworthy, which skillfully demonstrated not only different ways of using the same apartment, but also the possibility of reconfiguring some sections by introducing apartments with office space or changing the share of housing for virtual nomads, to the detriment of infranomazes.
The solution provided by team Dan Ioanici & Laura Bacali, carefully mixed social categories, generating quality in the interiors, not just in the case of the hyper-nomads, but also in the case of the virtual-nomads (the family oriented) and the infra-nomads (students), as the theme required resolving all apartments, not just the high-standard ones. The interiors were conceived in a fortunate relation with the common spaces.

As the premise of the project was that our lifestyle is in an accelerated process of transformation, flexibility of the apartments could not be neglected. As a consequence, each apartment was meant to be studied so that they allowed changing according to users, could integrate a work space, or even small firms. In other words, it was required to acknowledge and assume the seriality of urban density, but avoiding the basic real estate accumulation. Studying flexibility, it must noted that team Călin Santa & Răzvan Stoian's project proved not just different ways of using the same apartment, but also the possibility of reconfiguration of various parts, introducing apartments with work spaces or changing the density of virtual-nomad housing, to the disadvantage of the infra-nomads.

team Dan Ioanici & Laura Bacali
Insisting precisely on the urban relations of architecture, it was necessary to solve not only each individual unit, but also the intermediate spaces of transition from public to private, spaces that give, to a large extent, the quality of collective housing. Thus, the Alida Oltean & Ruxandra Grigoraș team's project created a semi-open and semi-private atrium-type space with an ecological and socializing role, from which access to the apartments was made. The resulting communal spaces were varied and bright. The project proposed a wide variety of apartment typologies, based on a clear modularization of volumes.

As is now self-evident, ecology became a mandatory requirement, with each project having to spell out at least one principle demonstrating responsibility for saving material and energy resources, a requirement which the projects interpreted in different ways.
Insisting especially on the architectures' urban relations, resolving not only each individual unit, but also the intermediary spaces, passages from public to private, spaces that greatly provide the quality of collective living, was mandatory. Exemplifying this principle, the project presented by the team Alida Oltean & Ruxandra Grigoras created an atrium-like space, semi-open and semi-private, with both an ecologic and a socializing purpose, as access point to the apartments. This was the resulted common spaces were varied and bright. The project proposes various types of apartaments, starting from a clear modulation of volumes.

By now it is by default understood that ecology had become a mandatory requirement, each and every project must show and explain at least one principle that proves responsibility towards the resources, materials and energy economy, requirement interpreted in different ways in students projects.

team Alida Oltean & Ruxandra Grigoraș