
Europa Nostra award for first restoration

Thematic folder

Arh. Vlad Sebastian RUSU
Europa Nostra Award for the first restoration
The architect Vlad Sebastian Rusu graduated from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, and then became an associate professor at the same faculty. Then, he will go through the didactic steps from assistant to lecturer, in 2013 defending his doctoral thesis "The urbanistic evolution of interwar Cluj" (under the guidance of prof. dr. arh. Nicolae Lascu, University of Architecture and Urbanism "Ion Mincu", Bucharest).
The orientation towards urbanism is not often approached, because a "business card" can be made more quickly by realizing two or three architectural objectives, easily perceived by the community, future commissioners, while an urban concept requires a longer time until it becomes a visible reality, the uninitiated public not having access to the master plan or a drone. Referring to the urban concerns of the arch. Vlad Sebastian Rusu, I would mention his participation in numerous competitions, all of which have been recognized with various prizes. I would stop at the volume "The Urbanistic Evolution of Interwar Cluj", 2015, since it is one of the few historical urbanism studies dedicated to Cluj.
In order to provide a picture correctly integrated in the coordinates of the period, the author begins the volume with the presentation of the "European Context, 1918-1939" and continues with the definition of "Interwar Cluj", from its urbanistic evolution until 1918, detailing the economic, social, administrative aspects, as well as the way of controlling the activity of building the material framework, as well as the transformations that occurred in the urban structure after 1919 (street layout, land parcels, functional areas, public spaces).
It should be noted that the work in question manages to highlight the efforts of Greater Romania which, in only two decades, took the necessary steps to approach, on multiple levels, the horizon of the European West.
Returning to Cluj, I would add one more observation. It is known that in the second half of the 19th century, as well as at the beginning of the following one, the development process was not based on a "Master Plan" (as it was practiced in the former Kingdom), but on a series of regulations (1868, 1879, 1882, 1899, 1904, 1911, 1916, resumed until 1931) for construction and alignments: it was only in 1919 that the question of organizing a competition of ideas for the drafting of a systematization plan was raised. The start was blocked by the lack of preliminary phases (general cadastral survey, water and power supply, sewerage, etc.), which were not completed until 1935.
The "competition theme" was finalized in 1937 and the competition was launched in 1939, but it was not completed due to the outbreak of the Second World War. The first systematization plan (the name used in the socialist period) did not appear until 1951.
But arch. Vlad Sebastian Rusu did not remain confined to the coordinates of urban planning; he also ventured into the world of architectural objects, an option to be recommended when you are concerned with the urban universe. Some of these participations/competitions were rewarded with prizes.
In terms of interventions on architectural heritage, I would particularly appreciate the approach to the restoration and enhancement of the Cultural Palace in Blaj.
The balance sheet provided by the promising architect: author of two books, 22 studies, articles, urban planning and architectural projects, 18 prizes in national and international competitions, 20 national and international exhibitions, the diversity of themes and the seriousness with which they have been approached show that we are dealing with a professional capable of making the necessary efforts to follow the path to excellence. At the same time, we are pleased that in recent years (see also the successes at the Biennale) more and more young people from Cluj have embarked on the difficult path of promoting major values in the exercise of the profession.
Vasile MITREA: If you had to judge, on your own, which three projects would define you? In which area would you like to assert yourself in the future?
Vlad Sebastian Rusu: My professional activity in the last 13 years has been carried out on two levels: the first and most important is the academic one, in the collective of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in Cluj, and the second level, practicing architect in my own architectural office. From these two areas of my activity I have developed both research projects in the field of the history of architecture and urbanism, as well as architectural, urban planning and restoration projects, built to date. If I had to name three defining projects, but also very dear to me, I would point out the book "The urban development of interwar Cluj", "Rehabilitation and refunctionalization of the Cultural Palace of Blaj" - a complex process of recovery of a ruin and its return to the local community and, finally, "Revitalization of the Railwaymen's Park in Cluj", an ongoing project with a significant urban and ecological impact for the city. All these projects have been for me an opportunity for continuous learning, either with my students or with fellow collaborating architects. As far as the future is concerned, I maintain my inclination towards teaching, together with my ongoing concern for research through design.
Vasile MITREA: A few years ago, I argued that Cluj-Napoca was slowly losing the assets that would have allowed it to approach a possible urban eco-structure favorable to biodiversity. Do you think there is nothing more to be done?
V.S.R.: Looking around, at how the city has developed over the last three decades, at local urban policies, at the decision-makers in the administration and the specialists involved in the city's development, I would be inclined to say that there is little left to do. Unfortunately, Cluj is living the price of success. It has lost enormously under the real estate pressures of a city that has become a powerful attractor in the region, which has gradually sacrificed all its natural reserves and has canceled all opportunities for sustainable development. Even if the last few years have sensitized the city administration on this issue, I do not believe that there has been a real debate on a sustainable direction for the city, much less a political assumption of a direction in this respect. Even if, punctually, projects are underway in the city that we could say could contribute to a possible urban eco-structure favourable to biodiversity (development of the banks of the river Someș and Armătura Park; revitalization of the Feroviarilor Park; development of the Citadel Hill, etc.), however, there is a lack of overall vision, coherence and systemic thinking. There is still some work to be done here, as far as the strengths that are still under discussion allow.
Vasile MITREA: The theme for the new general urban plan for Cluj-Napoca is about to be drafted. What do you think would be the main priorities? Shouldn't the premises also be created for 2030?
V.S.R.: The theme of the new general urban plan must anticipate the directions in which the city aims to evolve. From this point of view, the city's development strategy should be the main instrument guiding the theme of the new G.U.P. A realistic development strategy, adapted to the conditions foreseen for the city of tomorrow, with projections politically assumed by any administration, can embrace a coherent and sustainable urban vision. From this point of view, I believe that the main priorities of the theme are: to answer some natural quantitative and qualitative questions: how many inhabitants will there be in the city in 10-20-30 years' time, what will sustainable urban mobility look like in the city of tomorrow, how do we make the most of and protect the built and natural heritage, how do we ensure that everyone has access to education and a decent living, how do we raise the quality of life in the city, how do we reduce the consumption of resources and natural land? Of course, the list could go on. And there is one more aspect: the theme can propose adapting to local legislation (which is currently very deficient in terms of urban and spatial planning) urban models and policies from the European cultural space, which have proved their viability over time and have generated examples of good practice.


Vasile MITREA: In the last 30 years, although the population has only grown by approx. 9,000 inhabitants and there have been no major urban functions, Cluj's urban area has increased from 3,987 ha to over 10,000 ha. Will the "encouragement" of such a trend not lead to management surprises?
V.S.R.: The unjustified expansion of the surface area of the urban areas of Romania's major cities after 1990 was an unfortunate decision, which allowed the permanent consumption of the existing natural territory and opened up the possibility of real estate speculation and chaotic developments dictated by opportunistic circumstances. This was due to the primitivism of local administrations, architects and urban planners, who abruptly switched from the planned systematization of the territory in an era of nationalization to the urban planning of the capitalist system. The consequences of this process can be seen today and are generally defined by the pejorative term 'parcel urbanism', describing a critical situation of fragmented suburbs, in a permanent rift with the previous structure of the city, lacking public facilities and spaces, deprived of the necessary infrastructure and conditioned to exist in permanent dependence on the automobile. Unfortunately, Cluj is no exception. The local administration's lack of reaction and control with regard to the city's new residential developments is obvious, as it is constantly hesitating to ensure the necessary land for accessibility, infrastructure, public spaces and facilities through expropriations in the public interest.
Vasile MITREA: Nowadays, the changes on multiple levels that define contemporary civilization require - for a sustainable development - a continuous and skilful adaptation of the functional structure to the national and international context. In relation to this need, after 1990, I proposed to the local administration the formation of high class specialists, of a "pilot team" which, according to the various conjunctures, would confront the proposals in the P.U.G. with the national and international trends, signaling (as a forum of urban strategy) the reconsideration of some directions, targets. It was not accepted. Do you think that the existence of the local systematization commission, which is in charge of approving the current documentations, is enough?
V.S.R.: In the case of the evaluation of urban and architectural decisions that are important for the city and the community, public debate is the most democratic instrument that can ensure a comprehensive evaluation, both from the specialists and from the community to which it is addressed. Personally, I believe that we are at a stage in the development of society when the direct beneficiaries of urban change must join the specialists at the table alongside the specialists. In this respect, the civic involvement of non-specialist citizens, based on their natural education in the general issues of city development and good neighborliness (perhaps future generations, beneficiaries of alternative education programs such as 'De-a Arhitectura') can lead to a more humanistic and qualitative evaluation of decisions.
www.vladrusu.ro
2006 - graduate of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the Technical University Cluj-Napoca
2009 - opens Vlad Sebastian Rusu Individual Architecture Office
2013 - PhD "The urbanistic evolution of interwar Cluj" (under the supervision of prof. dr. dr. arh. Nicolae Lascu, University of Architecture and Urbanism "Ion Mincu", Bucharest).
2018 - university lecturer, director of the Department of Urban Planning and Technical Sciences
Important works include:
2007-2010 - "Biodiversity Research Center", Cluj-Napoca
2013-2017 - "Cultural Palace", Blaj
2018 - "Firemen Tower", Cluj-Napoca
2018 - Multipurpose Sports Hall, Blaj
Awards (selective)
2008 - Second Prize (co-author) - "Spatial planning of the Tamula" competition, Estonia
2010 - First Prize (co-author) - Competition "Theme for the Transylvania Cultural Center Cluj-Napoca"
2010 - Third Prize - "Expansion of the Central University Library of Cluj-Napoca" Competition
2012 - First Prize (author) - National Architecture Competition for the "Rehabilitation of the Cultural Palace of Blaj"
2013 - Third Prize - Competition "Promenade on the banks of the Criș Repede", Oradea
2014 - Second Prize (co-author) - "National Architectural Competition for the Design and Modernization of the Central Market in Bistrița"
2014 - Second Prize - International Architecture Competition for "New control tower at Cluj-Napoca Airport"
2016 - "Mihai Alexandru" Excellence Award for young researchers in urban planning awarded by the Professional Association of Romanian Urban Planners
2017 - Nomination - Mies van der Rohe European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - "Rehabilitation and refunctionalization of the Cultural Palace of Blaj"
2017 - Grand Prize of the European Union for Cultural Heritage - Europa Nostra Awards - restoration of the "Cultural Palace" Blaj
2017 - First Prize (co-author) - Competition "Revitalization of the Firemen's Tower in Cluj-Napoca"
2018 - "Landscape rehabilitation and revitalization of the Railwaymen Park" Cluj-Napoca
2018 - First Prize (co-author) - International Competition for the "Landscape Rehabilitation and Revitalization of the Railwaymen's Park" in Cluj-Napoca
Vasile MITREA: Starting from the assessments in the book "The urbanistic evolution of interwar Cluj", how would you characterize, from the same angle, the two stages that followed: the 1945-1989 stage and the one after 1989?
V.S.R.: If the appreciation of the evolution of Cluj in the interwar period pointed to this development as a natural continuation of the modernization process of the city started in the 19th century and the identification of a possible urban concept on the enhancement of the specificity of the place, the following stage (1945-1989), in Cluj, is under the sign of national urban development policies, validated by the planning of large collective housing estates, superimposed to some extent in the city over the urban structure inherited from the interwar period. Thus, the city had a hybrid structure within the limits of the 1990 urban area, but also in some territories within it, resulting from the superimposition of the large systematizations of the large collective housing estates over the former garden suburbs or interwar working-class subdivisions. This phenomenon of overlapping has also been contributed to by the additions of the 1970s and 1980s, which have negatively altered the coherence of the first planned developments. Last but not least, the city underwent an unprecedented development of the functional industrial area, with the emergence of large industrial platforms in the north-east, sacrificing one of the most attractive urban areas in terms of orientation, the low gradient of the land and the presence of the Someș river and the Nadăș stream. It is worth noting, however, that the city has maintained a balanced territorial development, preserving an important reserve of natural areas both within and beyond the limits of the urban area. As for the post-1989 phase, this unfortunately reflects the city's and society's inability to preserve and enhance the existing valuable elements, both in terms of the reserve of natural territory outside the Cluj urban area (by almost doubling the surface of the urban area in 1999) and in terms of the city's natural and built heritage. Unfortunately, today we are witnessing a process of urban development in the last 30 years that lacks any direction or vision, with the city accumulating a substantial area of new suburbs, developed organically and heterogeneously, which produce serious urban dysfunctions.

Vasile MITREA: As an exponent of the profession, but also of the civil community, wouldn't it be advisable for the Romanian Register of Urban Planners to be the catalyst in the periodic analysis of the steps taken in stimulating interest in excellence (see Architecture Biennales, competitions), in orienting research in the field and, last but not least, in cooperating with the Ministry of Development in defining a long-term national policy and strategy in urban and territorial planning? What is your point of view as an urban planner?
V.S.R.: I believe that it is absolutely necessary for any professional association or organization in the field (RUR, APUR, OAR, UAR, ASAR, etc.) to get involved in increasing the quality of development of urban and rural localities in Romania. The levers of action are multiple, ranging from highlighting and promoting examples of good practice in urban planning, urban planning, urban design, etc., to initiating dialogues with local and national administrations, with the aim of improving both urban planning legislation (currently deficient, in my view) and access to public orders concerning public space and public investment in the field. I cannot help noticing the growing interest of some local and regional authorities in the competition for solutions as a tool for identifying the best professional responses for various investments in public spaces. Counting the total number of solution competitions of the last two decades, organized with the direct involvement of some of the above professional organizations, it can be seen that a significant percentage is directed towards the demand for urban planning and urban design solutions in both urban and rural areas. Unfortunately, the percentage of projects that get implemented, compared to the pace of competitions initiated over the years, is still timid. As far as the definition of long-term strategies is concerned, this aspect can only be achieved when political will assumes a coherent legislative framework to regulate objectively and qualitatively the field of urban and territorial planning, instead of the current situation, characterized by derogatory practices and lack of control levers, which creates the opportunity to maintain speculation and group interests.
Vasile MITREA: As a member of the zonal commission for the protection of built and landscaped heritage, don't you think that the municipality should have already developed a long-term policy with a phased strategy and staggered annual intervention funds?
V.S.R.: In the field of heritage, there is an urgent need for a policy at national level that can make a significant contribution to stopping the assault on heritage. It is up to the state to ensure that legislation is adapted to today's heritage needs, opting for European models already in place, which provide for various forms of relief and aid for owners who lack the material means. Such a national policy would certainly also be addressed to local and regional administrations, obliging them to take concrete action to regularly inventory the heritage in their administrative area and to recover and protect the heritage under threat.





































