INDEPENDENȚA | REGENERATING A (POST)INDUSTRIAL SITE IN THE CITY CENTER
The regeneration of abandoned industrial sites represents a pivotal intersection of urban development, community engagement, and economic sustainability.
To ensure a sustainable urban regeneration process for this site, we promoted a structured and open dialogue between all the stakeholders as essential. This can foster the return on trust and integrate common values into the regeneration project.
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1. A layout option, within the proposed building regulation framework
2. AI-assisted simulation along protected view towards old town
3. The 9 hectare urban regeneration site
4. Aerial view from north-west
5. Participatory process UDM workshop - presentation
6. Participatory process UDM workshop - dialogue
7. Entrance view from the south
8. Within the historical fabric of production buildings, looking south
9. Former industrial roads become public spaces
10. Physical 3D model
11. City scale - Extent of recent or running urban planning initiatives
12. City scale – Cultural and educational facilities throughout the city
13. City scale – Site connectivity to bus, train, highway, airplane
14. City scale – Green areas and sports facilities throughout the city
15. Wide scale – Walking and cycling distance, by minutes required
16. Area scale – Mapping of public spaces in the surrounding area
17. Area scale – Mapping of existing uses in the surrounding area
18. Site scale – Urban regulations for building, planting and use of public spaces
Something about the project.
The urban regeneration of the INDEPENDENȚA site in Sibiu required the development of urban regulations in order to construct, plant and make use of the public spaces – a zonal urban plan for heritage protected areas (PUZCP).
Due to the huge impact of the almost 9 hectares of brownfield redevelopment in the immediate vicinity of the historical old town of Sibiu, our approach was to thoroughly analyze the city-wide situation and also the immediate surroundings of the site. We decided to furthermore use the Urban Design Management (UDM) methodology for public participation, a process we ourselves imported to Romania and constantly use (see URBAN co:LAB). The resulting regulations and subsequent allowed actions bring the most value for the maximum number of stakeholders. A difficult and potentially conflict-generating intent is fostered towards the best outcome for the people in the community, for the public and for the private sector.
Besides the exterior influences (city-wide influences, intent, ambitions and business model), we juggled some strong site-dictated constrains: about one third of the site is occupied by heritage listed buildings (historical factories) of significant value that require a modern, flexible approach like adaptive re-use. A historic street needed to be reopened to public use, after over 60 years of blockade. Close to 1 hectare of park area needed to find space within the development.
By our own drive, we decided to eliminate almost entirely the cars from the street level and make the development as permeable as possible for pedestrians and cyclists – a safe space for all ages, where everyone feels welcome and inspired to be their best.
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