Shura to the origins

AUTHORS:

- project coordinators: Ionuț Onea (president of the Cultural Association for Sustainable Development Groove On, Bucharest), Claudia Georgiana Dumitru (architect, Bucharest)

- financial coordinator: Ionuț Onea, president of the Cultural Association for Sustainable Development Groove On, Bucharest

- roof thatcher: Florian Vicențiu, village Dealul Corbului, jud. Maramureș

- permanent volunteers: Cornelia Onea (lawyer, Tulcea), Vlad Alexe (anthropologist, Breaza), Răzvan Popa (architect, Bucharest)

LOCATION: Romania, jud. Alba, Tecșești

Our project is dedicated to research, conservation and restoration of traditional architecture. The construction of the museum started in 2014, and during the summer schools, from 2014 to the present, we have restored Casa Petric, Casa Simion (two centenary households, built before 1900), Șura Drăgan and Șura La Origini (Info Point for the Living Museum of Tecșești). In the Neolithic sector we have completed the construction of the Snake Hut, the Cook's Hut and the clay oven and we have erected the conical wooden structure of the Council of Elders.

Back to the origins

In the framework of the summer school "La Origini - Restoration of traditional architecture", with the help of the folk craftsman Vicențiu Florian and with the participation of 15 students from the Faculties of Architecture from Iasi, Cluj and Bucharest we restored the roof of the "La Origini" Shrine. The works consisted in replacing all the old thatch and damaged by the passage of time. It was built 50 years ago and came under the administration of the association in 2020. The "La Origini" shed will have an informational role for visitors. We will set up inside it an exhibition and presentation space on the history of the village with photos, old tools specific to the area and other relevant objects. At the same time, the bridge will be cleaned and arranged to accommodate guests.

Currently, the village of Tecșești is almost depopulated, with only 23 inhabitants. Most of the houses have remained uninhabited and are deteriorating day by day. Our aim is to turn the village into a living museum and, in this way, preserve its authenticity, its traditional architecture and carry on the customs and crafts specific to this area.