Places of the Nation

Perhaps Heidegger's argument is the most convincing: "... to inhabit is to exist on Earth"^1.

At the same time: "the Old German word for building BUAN (now BAUEN) also means to inhabit"^2.

To inhabit is linked to "place". Heidegger uses a bridge as an example to give an exact measure of this intimate connection. It connects the banks of a river, uniting the land around it as a region, but above all: "... it is not the bridge that occupies the place in order to exist, but only from the bridge does the place come into being"^.3

On another occasion, ^Heidegger4 refers to the contextual relations that link beings, things, nature in the world.

'Contextualism' as a way of looking at the architectural/urban project as a mediation between the existing and the new is theorized by Thomas Schumacher^.5

Christian Norberg-Schulz deepens and develops. He writes, in 1976, on 'place': 'We understand a totality of concrete things having material substance, form, texture and color. At the same time, these things determine an 'environmental character' which is the essence of the bond. In general, a place is experienced as a character or 'atmosphere'. A place is thus a 'total' qualitative phenomenon that cannot be reduced to each of its properties, such as spatial relations, without losing sight of its concrete nature"^.6 Contextualism, centered on the notion of 'place', has established itself (in its many variants) as a major theoretical-practical trend in architecture in recent decades.

At this point, we cannot fail to evoke what we might call the opposite trend ('processual architecture', 'extr extrusion' of 'congestion') which claims, in relation to the metropolization of the plan-

out of scale (Bigness), the abandonment of 'formal' and contextual concerns, claiming that 'the "art" of architecture is useless in Bigness'^.7

On what theoretical ground, then, shall we situate ourselves in the case of the approach to the "places of the nation" in Bucharest?

One can speak of "places of the nation" where exceptional events for the destiny of communities have taken place and have become part of the collective memory. In 1291, the Perpetual Pact, the founding act of the Swiss Confederation, was signed at Grütli, on the shores of Lake Lucerne.

The Blaj plain is linked to the shape of modern Romania.

In most cases, however, the "places of the nation" are to be found in urban areas. I do not need to dwell on the decisive role played by architecture, although there are many surprises.

I would cite as "places of the nation" in Bucharest: Mitropoliei Hill, University Square and the "umbilicus urbis", Palace Square.

I will only set out some general ideas here:

- The places of nationhood constitute "materializations" of national foundations.

- Places of the nation deserve to have a priority position in urban design and planning.

- Places of the nation are essential structural elements of the city and make a decisive contribution to its appreciation and prestige.

- Their presence among the permanent concerns of decision-makers can avoid situations like that of the parking lot under University Square, saved in extremis by the intervention of architects.

- Interventions can only be the result of carefully prepared architectural competitions, involving broad participation and unquestionable jury selection.

- Places of memory, the nation's places can also be: lively, attractive, convivial, open to a multitude of activities, and scenes capable of satisfying the most demanding "atmosphere" creators.

- Lastly, the "bigness" formula does not - until proven otherwise - seem to be the closest to the three situations in Bucharest.

"Essais et conférences", Gallimard, Paris, 1958, p. 174 (trans. N.L.)

2. Ibidem 1, p. 172 (trans. N.L.)

3. Ibidem 1, p. 183 (N.L.)

4. Martin Heidegger - L'ORIGINE DE L'OEUVRE DE L'ART in: "Chemins qui ne mènent nulle part", Gallimard, Paris, 1962

5. Thomas Schumacher - CONTEXTUALISM: URBAN IDEALS AND DEFORMATION, Casabella no. 359-360, 1971

6. Christian Norberg-Schulz - THE PHENOMENON OF PLACE in: "Designing cities", edited by Alexander R. Cuthbert, Blackwell Publising Ldt. 2003, p. 116 (N.L.)

7. Rem Koolhass - FIN DE SIECLE INNOCENTE? in Jaques Lacan, "OMA - Rem Koolhass. Pour une culture de la congestion", Electa Moniteur, Paris, 1990, p. 114-115 (trans. N.L.)Places of the nation

Heidegger's argument is probably the most convincing: "dwelling" means "the stay of mortals on the earth ^1."

Moreover: "The Old High German word for building, buan, means to ^dwell2."

To dwell is connected to "place". In order to convey the exact sense of this intrinsic link, Heidegger chooses the bridge as an example. The bridge joins the banks of a river, gathering the earth as landscape around the stream, and above all: "the bridge does not come to a locale to stand in it; rather, a locale comes into existence only by virtue of the bridge ^3."

Elsewhere, Heidegger refers to the contextual relations that bind together beings, things and nature in the world ^4.

"Contextualism" as a way of looking at architectural/urban design in the form of a mediation between the existent and the new is theorized by Thomas Schumacher ^5.

Christian Norberg-Schulz takes this idea further. In 1976, he wrote of "place": "We mean a totality made up of concrete things having material substance, shape, texture and color. Together these things determine an "environmental character", which is the essence of place. In general a place is given as such a character or "atmosphere". A place is there-fore a qualitative, "total" phenomenon, which we cannot reduce to any of its properties, such as spatial relationships, without losing its concrete nature out of sight" ^6. Centred on the notion of "place", contextualism, in its numerous variants, constitutes a major theoretical/practical trend in the architecture of the last few decades.

Having come thus far, we cannot but evoke what we might name the opposite trend ("processual architecture", the ar-chitecture of "extrusion" of "congestion"), which, in relation to the metropolization of the planet, puts forward Bigness, an abandonment of "formal" and contextual concerns, arguing that "the 'art' of architecture is redundant in Bigness" ^7.

Therefore, in Bucharest, what theoretical ground do we occupy in the case of the "places of the nation" approach?

It is possible to speak of "places of the nation" as those where outstanding events in the destiny of a community have taken place and inscribed themselves in the collective memory. In Grütli, on the shore of the lake of the four cantons, the Perpetual Pact was signed in 1291, the founding act of the Swiss Confederacy. The field at Blaj is linked to the coming together of modern Romania.

In the majority of cases, however, the "places of the nation" are located on urban ground. I do not think that here is the place to dwell upon the decisive rôle played by architecture, although the surprises here are many.

As "places of the nation" in Bucharest I would cite the Hill of the Metropolia, University Square and the "umbilicus urbis", Palace Square.

In the hope that I shall have the opportunity to develop this subject further in a future issue, I shall for the time being lay out a few general ideas:

- The places of the nation are "materializations" of what underlies the nation;

- The places of the nation deserve to hold a position of prio-rity in the overall urban concept and in town planning;

- The places of the nation are essential structural elements of the city, contributing in a decisive way to the its prestige and the way it is viewed;

- If the places of the nation were among the ongoing concerns of decision makers, then situations such as the car park below University Square, which was rescued at the last moment thanks to the intervention of architects, might be avoided;

- Such interventions must be only the result of painsta-kingly prepared architectural competitions with a wide range of entrants and an uncontroversial jury;

- As sites of national memory, the places of the nation can also be lively, attractive, convivial, open to multiple activities, stages capable of responding to the most demanding creators of "atmosphere";

- Finally, until proven otherwise, "bigness" does not appear to be the most appropriate solution for the three situations in Bucharest.

3. Ibid, p. 356.

4. Martin Heidegger, "L'Origine de l'oeuvre de l'art" in Chemins qui ne mènent nulle part, Gallimard, Paris, 1962.

5. Thomas Schumacher, "Contextualism: Urban Ideals and Deformation", Casabella nos. 359-360, 1971

6. Christian Norberg-Schulz, "The Phenomenon of Place" in Designing Cities, ed. Alexander R. Cuthbert, Blackwell, 2003, p. 116.

7. Rem Koolhass, "Fin de siècle innocent" in Jaques Lacan,

OMA - Rem Koolhass. Pour une culture de la congestion, Electa Moniteur, Paris, 1990, pp. 114-115.