Initiatives / Experiments / Visions
Emergency intervention for the safety and preservation of Neptune Baths - Stage I - HerculaneProject
Project description
HerculaneProject is an architectural and social reactivation platform for Herculane Baths historical center through architectural, cultural and educational instruments. The project is being developed around two main components: 1. Reactivation of Neptune Baths, the historical center's reactivation driver 2. Social and cultural reactivation of the historical center through cultural or educational projects The first step of the reactivation project of the Neptun Baths Architectural Ensemble is an emergency intervention, which aims to stop the degradation and remove the public danger classification of the site The emergency intervention requires the following works: support works for the elements that are in a stage of collapse, works at the level of the cover - replacing the perforated sheet, replacing gutters and troughs, supports for vaults and floors, grabbing works - replacing degraded elements and supporting critical areas, protection of ornamental elements - statues and majolica fountain, cleaning the building, side closures to stop access. The technical project was developed in 2017 along with volunteers, architecture students and specialists. What have we achieved so far?With the help and contriubution of over 2500 donators and three main sponsors we raised 58.000 euro and implemented the first stage of the emergency intervention. The first stage of the emergency intervention was successfully implemented in 2019. During the first stage of security we intervened in 12 areas at the roof level, we sanitized the building - 220 cubic meters of debris and garbage were removed from inside, we protected the majolica fountain, we blocked access to the building, supported two roof structures and four floors, cleaned the exterior terraces and the roof, pipes and gutters of moss and rubble, all constructive and ornamental elements on the verge of collapse, representing a public danger were stored inside the building, and all elements already collapsed were palletized and stored inside. All these works are reversible and temporary, and aim to stop the degradation produced by infiltrations of meteoric water, by collapses of unstable elements and unfortunately, and those made by man - theft, breaking of ornamental elements.
Author's presentation text
The Locus Association is a non-governmental organization that aims to save and promote the cultural, architectural, urban and natural heritage of Romania. The defining philosophy for the association is that the national heritage, whether tangible or intangible, has the potential to become an engine of community reactivation and regeneration. The means used are multidisciplinary, aiming to obtain customized strategies for each case. The impact is intended to be both material in nature, for example the rehabilitation of heritage objectives and increasing the well-being of the community, and intangible in the case of coagulation of the social environment and the conservation of invisible heritage. The Locus Association has as its first project the activities carried out under the tutelage of Herculane Project, a platform for cultural and social reactivation of the historic center of Băile Herculane, with architectural, social and cultural tools, and aiming, in the long term, to include the whole historical monument in heritage. UNESCO. Because we believe in the power of education and culture to make a significant contribution to any development strategy, the Locus Association, through the Herculane Project, not only helps stop degradation and secure the Neptune Baths building, but also contributes to the social and social environment. cultural center of the resort through events and activities such as the Herculane Baths Cultural Site, HerculTURA and Architecture Bath.
