Collective Housing in Bucharest

1.Argument
In the context of residential areas analysed during the first and second years of study, this second
semester naturally proposes further consideration of a living system which shows a more enhanced
complexity: collective housing.
The proposal is justified by a sum of factors mainly related to socio-economic aspects. Its
implementation in the urban setting has led to essential changes within the structure of cities and of
society itself. Therefore, it is enough for us to think of the radical reconfiguration of Barcelona during
the 19th century (Ensanche / Eixample) coordinated by Idelfons Cerdà, and to everything that
Barcelona stands for today, including its latest major urban interventions, rigorously and coherently
developed in order to assure the continuity of the legacy left by the 19 th century structural planning.
Furthermore, by identifying positive and negative features, we can critically analyse the massive
transformations to which Romanian cities were subject to during the communist era: forced
urbanization, civic centres etc.; as well as the effects they have in present times due to imperfect
legislation and a strong lack of strategic macro-urban planning.

2.Objectives
Through its scale, implementing a collective housing project within the cities would firstly
generate density – by bringing relevant changes within the urban and social structures. Therefore, the
main objective of this study is to elaborate an integrated urban project, by using means specific to
modern architecture.
We have to pay attention, simultaneously and in equal measure to the following:
a. a complex intervention, conceived as an element of continuity and interdependency to urban
structures;
b. a sustainable process, capable to evolve in time;
c. a system capable of improving the quality of life;
In order to meet these objectives, we have to use critical analysis as a procedure to design the
context where we chose to intervene. This process has to take into consideration both the spatial
configuration and the anthropological particularities of living, in the respective area – past (if

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relevant), present and future (anticipated by statistics and imagination). Data obtained and analysed
within this process will lead to a set of conclusions and directions for an intervention, which will later
represent the fundament of the project.
In addition to the before mentioned aspects, the proposals will have to answer, both in detail and
in relation to the ensemble, to the following basic requirements:
- Spatial & functional;
- Structural & constructive;
- Commercial & economic;
- In relation to energy efficiency;
3.Content
For this study, we propose a site located in Bucharest, with access to Ferdinand Boulevard,
situated in a protected area of the city. The plot is cleared of constructions and relatively flat, formed
by three distinct lots (Bd. Ferdinand no. 72, 76 & 78) with a total area of 4170 sqm. As a particularity,
lot no. 74 is situated within the afore mentioned parcels and consists of a building Ds+P+1E (semi-
basement, ground floor, one floor) constructed at the beginning of the last century and currently in an
average state of conservation. The intervention would have to directly relate to the it and to any
building in the immediate vicinity of the plot.
The collective housing ensemble will be developed by a private investor and/or by an institution
of the state (local council, ministry etc.). The urban regulations (access, retreats, alignments, land
occupancy percentage – POT, land usage ratio – CUT, H max, etc.) which will be applied in the
project will be established individually by each team of students, after analysing the site and
gathering a proper documentation. For this, applicable area urban regulations will be consulted.
Due to being located in the central area of the city, the site is able to access all public utilities and
services it requires (water, sewage, sanitation, electricity, gas).
The proposed total apartment number of the facility will be established following the solution
study, but will not be less than 70.
The site will consist of apartments with 1, 2, 3 & 4 rooms, their division will be:
20% - one bedroom apartments;
30% - two bedroom apartments;
30% - three bedroom apartments;
20% - four bedroom apartments;

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 The useful area of the apartments (including outside covered spaces like balconies and terraces),
will not exceed:
40sqm – one bedroom apartments;
60sqm – two bedroom apartments;
80sqm – three bedroom apartments;
100sqm – four bedroom apartments;

Construction and structural systems used, building and apartment types and their disposition in
the ensemble will be established individually by each team. Nevertheless, the interventions will
impose an average and high standard reported to contemporary needs, therefore avoiding functional
and typical configurations. In example, social housing or other forms of inadequate collective
housings with respect to the context of their surroundings. Solutions that do not fully integrate the
collective housing concept should also be avoided. Further attention should be given to the flexibility
of the apartments, allowing them to evolve in time.
“Common space” – in other words, everything related to what happens between the apartments’
door up to the street. These aspects will have several demeanours, to be considered more than simple
circulation fluxes, interconnecting with exterior spaces and units. It is recommended for the journey
to the apartment from the street to become a social experience by itself.
Public spaces. Following the site analysis and in addition to the proposed scenario for collective
housing, complementary functions may be added to the buildings. These functions can serve many
purposes, as extensions to the living space or as commercial or non-commercial public spaces. In this
case also, the distribution will be established individually by each team but with a total share less than
20% of the allocated constructed space.
Both for living and for its complementary functions, technical spaces, parking requirements will
be dimensioned and configured in accordance with Romanian legislation. Legislations and norms will
be respected, establishing minimum and mandatory minimum surfaces of the apartments, as well as te
ones which impose exigence criteria for hygiene, lighting, natural ventilation, fire protection, civil
protection, traffic and circulation safety.
An outstanding importance will be given to the configuration of green spaces, public unbuilt
spaces, semi-public community and private spaces in the use of the owners.

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4. Conditions for elaboration
The project will be developed in 2 phases:

Phase 1 - Collective housing: urban and solution study

(4 credits, 6 weeks – class evaluation)
This phase will be attended by one member of the Faculty of Urbanism, as a consultant specialist,
attached to each class.
Instruments:
- documentation: the city, the history of the place, collective dwelling in general, and contemporary
collective dwelling in particular;
- critical reading: urban and social context, site history and development possibilities;
- vision: the concept of the future project.

Deliverables, in techniques of your choice, white paper:

- photographs, sketches, diagrams, explanatory texts and diagrams with:
- analysis of the existing urban context;
- set of conclusions drawn from it;
- the proposed intervention strategy.
- situation plan (Scale 1: 500)
- neighborhood Situation Plan (Scale 1: 500)
- plans of the ground floor and of an over-ground level, 2 sections and unfolded on the street front,
illustrating the architectural-urban concept of the intervention (1: 200);
- model (1: 500 or 1: 200)
The layout of the project (1: 200) will be integrated into the 1: 200 scale layout, which will cover the
neighborhoods and will be built by each class.

Phase 2 - Collective Housing: detailed study

(8 credits, 8 weeks - evaluation in commission
Instruments:
- documentation: structure, materials and constructive techniques, functional organizations
(apartments, common spaces, exterior spaces), constructive details;

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 - details: materiality, spatiality, constructive systems, functional organizations, private,
semi-private and public spaces, housing support systems (installations and annexes).
Deliverables, in techniques of your choice, white paper:
- Situation Plan (Sc 1: 500);
- Plans of all overground levels ( with furniture) (Sc 1: 100);
- Basement plan ( Sc 1: 200);
- All facades, (the street facade will also include the neighborhoods) (sc 1: 100);
- at least two characteristic sections throughout the assembly (sc 1: 100);
- a detailed general perspective from which the proposed urban scenario, the atmosphere, the
project materiality and its relationship with the neighborhoods (3D model, model photo, drawing in
the free hand)
It is mandatory to also deliver a scale model of the proposal, in 1:200, included in the general site
model of the studio.
For a better understanding of the design process, the Phase 1 layouts and model will be handed
over to the jury for this project phase.

Technical project (in collaboration with the Department of Technical Sciences)

(2 credits, 7 weeks - evaluation in committees)
The technical project will consist of detailing at the project level the execution of some elements
of the architectural project. The study will naturally take place in a second phase of an architecture
project (the last 7 weeks) and will be guided in collaboration with members of the Department of
Technical Sciences. It is necessary to illustrate, quote and explain the elements (layers) of the planar
elements (interior or exterior walls, floors and stairs, covering), carpentry (interior and exterior),
metallic or other materials and any other part of the construction, so as to meet current comfort
standards.
The technical project will consist of detailing at the project level the execution of some elements
of the architectural project. The study will naturally take place in a second phase of an architecture
project (the last 7 weeks) and will be guided in collaboration with members of the Department of
Technical Sciences.

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Deliverables:
- overground level in a representative section (1:50) in team: horizontal section, drawn
as project execution level with the marking of fixed furniture.
- track detail (1:20) in team: horizontal section for each different level, vertical section,
the façade, from the foundation to roof. The chosen area will be through a relevant facade
and will be established with the guidance team.
- detail of your choice (sc.1: 5 – 1: 1, as the case may be), individual: horizontal section,
vertical section. A special detail will be chosen to be established with the guidance team.
By „special” is meant a particular detail, not a catalog, specifically designed by the author
for the project.

All other phases of the study may be taught other drawing pieces or models, but only if they support a
better understanding of the solution.

All phases of the study will be fully developed in teams of 2 students. As an exception, only one
individual work case or a group of 3 students per group is allowed, when the number of students in
that group is odd. Thus, in both phases, the diversity of solutions will rigorously reflect the number of
student teams.

Evaluation criteria

The project evaluation shall take into account simultaneously and equally:
- maturity and realism of the approach;
- the relationship of the new intervention with the given urban context;
- the architectural and urban quality of the proposal;
- the quality of the living unit (apartment);
- the quality of functional, constructive and structural solutions;

References
Castex, Jean, Depaule, Jean-Charles - „Urban Forms: The Death and Life of The Urban Block”,
Oxford, 2004
Frampton, Kenneth – „Modern architecture: a critical history”, Thames & Hudson, Londra, 1992
Macey, David – „Dictionary of Critical Theory”, Penguin Books, Londra, (2001) 2014
Rossi, Aldo – „L’architettura della città”, CittàStudi Edizioni, Torino, (1966) 2008
Gausa, Manuel – „Housing: new alternatives - new systems”, Actar, Barcelona, 1998
Jacobs, Jane – „The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, Vintage Books, (1961) 1992
Gehl, Jan – „Oraşe pentru oameni”, IglooMedia, 2010

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Biciuşcă, Florin – „Experimentul Căţelu”, Paideia, 2007
*** - „Collective Housing”, Editorial Pencil, Valencia, 2006
*** - Monographs: Le Corbusier, Duiliu Marcu, Horia Creangă
*** - Monographs: „El Croquis”: Steven Holl, OMA, Alvaro Siza, David Chipperfield etc.
*** - The collection of „Zeppelin” magazine, 2005 – 2019

*** - The collection of „Arhitectura” magazine, 1950-1990

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