Graduation projects
Improvement of the existing public space infrastructure to revitalize the two cores of the Băile Herculane spa resort
Project description
The topic aims to identify ways in which public space can help revitalize urban tissue in a state of degradation. By analyzing the existing situation at the level of the two poles of the resort and by conducting a sociological study on 195 residents and tourists, a series of conclusions resulted. Băile Herculane resort represents more than its built heritage, special importance receiving the natural setting, water, and hot springs. The lack of a relationship with the Cerna River, the non-existent or poor quality thermal springs, the lack of diversity of activities, functional incompatibilities, the forgotten brand, and the suffocation of the resort by cars were considered problems whose solution was achieved through the proposed strategy. The strategy also took into account the effects of the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The interventions are focusing on two main directions: infrastructure interventions and punctual interventions. Thus, in the modern center, the aim is to create one-way traffic rings, to establish a hierarchy of the streets, and to modify their typology so that pedestrians and alternative means of transport benefit from a considerable area. The historic center is aimed to be fully pedestrianized, access to cars being prohibited except for tenants, distributors, and customers of hotels in the historic center, the latter being required to pay an additional fee if they want to use their car in the historic center. The redevelopment of Vicol Park aims to transform it from a transit area, into an activity core, which can host the cultural, sports and gastronomic events of the city. The main piece that connects the two centers is the promenade area. The proposal connects the interrupted promenade at the street level with a new promenade area on the river bank. The result is a series of areas that highlight the natural environment and facilitate the relationship between man and nature. The proposed new promenade area also incorporates the main thermal springs along the Cerna River. To achieve the objectives set in the strategy, a set of principles was taken into account, such as decreasing the population density in public spaces, thus respecting the recommendations of social distancing, connecting the user with the natural environment, respectively the Cerna river, prioritizing the common interest to reduce the traffic flow and the general number of cars that are present in the public space, human-scale design, and realization of dynamic routes. The Hercule brand is the umbrella under which all the proposed interventions will be carried out, the aim being to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle to the detriment of a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, and an unbalanced lifestyle.
Author's presentation text
Graduate of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in Timisoara, Romania, my interest is focused on urbanism as the main branch of my professional activity. In the six years of study, I discovered the symbiosis between architecture and community and how they influence each other. That is why, in the last part of the university cycle, my efforts were directed towards a holistic understanding of how architecture, in this case, urbanism, can come with answers for solving socio-economic problems and also the impact that they can have both on the cohesion and development of local communities and on increasing the quality of life.
