CASA MICA - CASA CUIB

Edition VII, result: ON DISPLAY

JURY: prof.phd.arch. Mircea OCHINCIUC, arch. Daniel PANAIT, arch. Mircea UNGUREANU, arch. Alexandru BALAN, arch. Robert Eugen ZOTESCU, arch. Dan DOMSA.

GORUNUL is a dendromorphic metal structure covered in a glass fiber membrane (PTFE). It serves as temporary dwelling in the hills of Mercheașa, Brașov, during the warm season. The ground floor houses the day area while the night area sits suspended above.

The structure aims to resemble an oak and acts like a skeleton with the purpose of tensioning the outer membrane layer.

CASA MICA - CASA CUIB (competition)

Mercheașa - Brașov, ROMANIA

October 2023

for OAR "Dunărea de Jos"

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă

ARCHITECTURE

A collection of architectural proposals forwarded for various competitions or academic exercises, ordered chronologically.

Select a year to begin.

MULTI DWELLING

A CONTEMPORARY APPROACH

The need for the presence of this program in the area is caused by the collective desire to heal a space that in the 70s suffered a trauma at the urban level as a result of the systematization processes. An area of 7 km2 was demolished and 40,000 people were evacuated in order to build the Palace of the Parliament.

The recovery and reuse of the central land in order to revitalize the entire area were the main objective of the master plan, which indicates the usefulness of the present function of collective housing as part of an urban planning apparatus. Part of ensuring the efficient operation of a system that contains, among others, a banking center, business centers, shopping centers and hotel complexes lies in the people who make them possible.

The site is located at the intersection of Calea 13 Septembrie and Uranus streets. It is flat and devoid of buildings. According to the master plan, it is divided in two islands: one island located along the 13 Septembrie Road and the other island located parallel. The parcel conformation divides the island with buildings into three parcels as follows: 3500 sqm buildable to the west, 2500 sqm buildable to the east, 1300 sqm of green space arranged between the two parcels. The northern island is considered a single plot with an area of 6,500 square meters. Thus, the built area is limited to the secluded island, and the one located on the boulevard is proposed to be transformed into a park.

In the western neighborhood there is a front of blocks, in the southeast area other collective housing buildings are planned, and the north will receive office buildings and parking lots.

Located in a central area near the Palace of the Parliament, the location benefits from all the necessary utilities and public services.

The urban regulations proposed through the master plan indicate a maximum footprint of 2,000 square meters in the case of the western building and 1,300 square meters in the case of the eastern building. The minimum setback from the street is 4.75 m and the maximum permitted height is 30 m.

The number of apartments will be determined in accordance with the elements already specified in the master plan. The complex will contain apartments with 1, 2, 3 and 4 rooms with the following distribution: 20% - 1 room; 30% - 2 rooms, 30% - 3 rooms, 20% - 4 rooms.

The surfaces of the apartments will not exceed: 40 sqm - 1 room, 60 sqm - 2 rooms, 80 sqm - 3 rooms, 100 sqm - 4 rooms.

The layout of the living spaces will follow contemporary standards of medium to high comfort considering the location.

Particular attention will be given to the apartment-street routes so that they become spatial and social experiences in themselves.

In the distribution of apartment types, social housing will be included - 20% and hotel housing - 20%. The remaining 60% is composed of apartments for permanent residence without special needs.

Auxiliary functions, important in the operation of the complex, are: rooms for rent, commercial spaces distributed in the ground floor area, public terraces, daycare services, spa, fitness room and a dental clinic.

MAIN OBJECTIVES INCLUDE:

a. the use of undeveloped land in the Academy area and its transformation into an area dedicated to collective housing;

b. the joining in the same built environment of all the social classes participating in the economy;

c. the revitalization of a poorly used area and its opening to the two main traffic arteries;

d. the generation of a public space powered by various commercial functions;

e. the integration of new building bodies into the existing fabric.

MULTI DWELLING PROJECT

Bucharest, ROMANIA

June 2020

for UAUIM Bucharest, fifth year

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă

URBAN REVITALIZATION

FILARET TRAIN STATION

Objectives:

Inclusion of the train station in the new museum route;

The opening to the street through volumes, placement and treatment of the facades;

Creation of new designed public spaces;

Revitalizing the area by creating a point of interest with multiple activities;

Refreshing the collective memory on the history and significance of the place.

URBAN REVITALIZATION

Bucharest, ROMANIA

June 2018

for UAUIM Bucharest, fourth year

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă

CASA MICA - CASA CUIB

Edition VI, result: ON DISPLAY

JURY: prof.phd.arch. Mircea OCHINCIUC, arch. Daniel PANAIT, arch. Mircea UNGUREANU, arch. Alexandru BALAN, arch. Robert Eugen ZOTESCU, arch. Daniela MAIER, arch. Razvan Ion DRACEA, arch. Angela KOVACS.

The project intends to place a living space, a holiday home, in the natural context generated by the hilly area adjacent to Negrilești village, Vrancea county. The site has running water, electricity and is accessible by private road. Compostability techniques are proposed to substitute regular sewage.

The gesture starts from the presence of two evergreens found on the site. The proposed volume aims to be discreetly integrated in-between, having the evergreens behave similar to a privacy curtain. Together with the view towards the mountains to the west, these two elements shape the geometry of the house. This results in a plan organization divided into a day/night zone with the access point located in-between. Load-bearing walls of laminated timber panels (CLT) are supported by 14 steel legs aiming to fructify the landscape. The exterior finish is made out of burnt wood, continuing the typical image of facades specific to the area. The faceted roof cover is made out of sheets of black steel and its geometry is designed to efficiently remove the snow.

DUMBRAVA VLASIEI - IMAGINE

Edition II 

JURY: Maria IOAN, Adrian SOARE, Donald MCCREADIE, Claudiu GUTA.

The main goal aimed through this proposal is to achieve a sustainable, economical, unitrusive building, that serves as a social hub for the gated community of Dumbrava Vlasiei.

A strong accent was placed on maximizing the benefits offered by the site (surroundings, orientations, capture of solar power based on seasons). As such, the volumetric conformation was designed so that a natural ventilation can be facilitated through the height differences of the volumes, spanning north-east and south-west.

The building opens to the east through wide windows for an optimal use of natural light considering the main function (remote work spaces / the possibility of organizing events or workshops). Towards south, large glass surfaces are provided in direct connection with the cafe, doubled by a wooden fin wall with the role of regulating the amount of solar energy entering the interior space during the warm season. To the north, marking the access in the pavilion, a double glass door allows visual contact with the activities taking place on the sports fields.

CASA MICA - CASA CUIB (competition)

Negrilesti - Vrancea, ROMANIA

October 2022

for OAR "Dunărea de Jos"

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă

DUMBRAVA VLASIEI - IMAGINE (competition)

Bucharest, ROMANIA

May 2022

for DUMBRAVA VLASIEI

by Gabriel Chivu, Victor Cătălin Tanasă, Thomas Herrera-Sandu, Laura Mazâlu, Bogdan Postole

BOUTIQUE HOTEL

INTEGRATION, CONFORMATION, ORIENTATION

One of the objectives of the project is that of INTEGRATION in the context. The intention is to design a building that visually expresses belonging to that place. This task is achieved through the materiality of the facade made of wood, an abundant resource found in the surroundings, and through the volumetric conformation.

The architectural language wants to continue the image of the traditional house by using covering elements and the specific materiality, but at the same time it wants to place the respective elements in contemporaneity.

Closely related to the intention of integration is the intention of COMPLIANCE with the area. This is achieved by positioning on the site according to the relief, the volume following the lines of the hill. The volume is designed to respond to the climate of the area, as such the roof is designed to withstand heavy snowfalls.

In the area there are natural elements of significant importance. One of these elements is the lake. The building recognizes the presence of this element and tries to capitalize on the accommodation spaces by ORIENTING them towards the water.

Benefiting from its location on the nearest hill next to the lake, the hotel manages to capture a wide and very comprehensive frame that outlines a clear image of the area.

BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Recea Cristur, Cluj County, ROMANIA

May 2017

for UAUIM Bucharest, fourth year

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă

DOORSCAPE

ENTRANCE ARCHITECTURE INTERNATIONAL CONTEST

Edition I, result: THIRD PLACE

Project is on display in Venice in the spaces created by Carlo Scarpa, from May 18 to November 26, 2023, during the 18th International Architecture Exhibition (Architecture Biennale).

JURY: Michele DE LUCCHI & AMDL CIRCLE, Alessandra CHEMOLLO, Donatella CALABI, Emanuele COCCIA, Luciano GIUBBILEI.

"DoorScape is a contest that is not aimed exclusively at the world of designers, but intends to open up a broader meditation than the exclusively technical approach. There were 150 submitted projects. Numerous architectural firms were involved in the participation, but the presence of projects created by designers, students, surveyors and artists was also substantial. 30% of the participants are foreign residents: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Philippines, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States."

Source: oikos.it

"The exhibition is the result of the entrance architecture international contest DoorScape | The Space beyond the Threshold created to value the entrance space in its many connections, meanings and functions, thus initiating a hitherto unprecedented meditation in this area of research.

From May 18 to November 26, 2023, during the 18th International Architecture Exhibition (Architecture Biennale), the ten selected projects are displayed in an exhibition curated by AMDL CIRCLE and Michele De Lucchi in the spaces created by Carlo Scarpa at the Querini."

Source: querinistampalia.org

Wooden models photographed by Raul Betti

PRAHOVA SALT MINE

"A MINE FULL OF IDEAS"

On the surface, the site is located in a context with multiple valuable elements such as a generous natural setting, hilly relief that represents an eastern limit, a glimmer of water that forms the western limit, but also buildings with historical value. These elements generate clear directions that require capitalization and insertions into public circuits.

The role of the surface intervention is to respond to the context through a volume given by a single architectural gesture, a covering based on the stylized shape of the salt crystal, an element for which the town of Slănic is famous for.

Following the understanding of the area's needs, which mainly revolve around the marking and streamlining of access to the salt pan, a covering structure is proposed that houses three main areas: the new access to the salt mine by means of an elevator along with the adjacent functions (ticket office, waiting areas), a large area that houses the restaurant with an opening to the water and an area dedicated to bicycle racing enthusiasts for both recreational and competitive purposes.

All these functions also have ramifications at the city level. The area of the new access, through the volume that suggests a vault, is an easily identifiable landmark from a distance. The restaurant space is open to the water and thus to the city. From the perspective of the city, more precisely of the main area in front of the town hall, the volumes of the two previously mentioned functions highlight the old elevator tower next to the engine building. The area dedicated to bicycle rental has connections with the rest of the region through organized routes that are either tours specially designed to connect the numerous historical monuments with each other or tours in the vast forests or even inside the salt mine.

Regarding the integration in the context, a fluid form of covering was chosen with the aim of integrating the construction between the silhouette of the hills and the water. The dominant material is wood, which serves both as a structural and aesthetic element.

All these proposals have as their main goal the exploitation of the proven potential of the area by revitalizing the already built environment, the project being an intervention targeting both the site area and the city.

The interior layout of the mine was made in accordance with its volume. Looking at the way the mine was excavated, we could identify 3 major spaces: a main axis that we linked to a boulevard populated with commercial spaces, places to rest and public food courts. This is also the tourist's first contact with the interior space of the salt mine, constituting the starting point for exploring the entire mine.

A second important space is to the left of the main axis, being larger in size. Considering the generous dimensions, we decided that it is appropriate to receive sports-related activities and to populate it with running tracks or for cycling along with other adjacent functions such as the football field, basketball, etc.

The third space is located in the continuation of the main axis, being smaller in size. Considering the circular conformation in plan and the withdrawal from the hustle and bustle of the main axis, we considered it a suitable space for cultural activities such as exhibitions or conferences.

Adjacent to the main axis, in one of the galleries of the mine, we proposed the construction of a spa hotel, temporary accommodation for those who wish to use the saline air for curative purposes.

The location in that gallery wants to bring the building closer to the most populated area to facilitate access for future patients, but at the same time follows the volumetric conformation of the gallery, offering privacy.

The concept on which the construction is based on is the salt crystal, more precisely the elementary cell inside it, which has the shape of a cube. Starting from this idea, we populated the parallel walls of the gallery with a lamellar wood structure that contains a set of cubes that, viewed from the main axis, resemble crystals discovered after excavations.

The two resulting buildings have a large terrace in the center that is fed by the public spaces on the ground floor. Also on the ground floor are proposed commercial spaces, the reception of the spa hotel and a medical clinic with role in consulting and prescribing treatments for those in need.

The next level is further composed of public spaces, bar, exhibition and conference hall, daycare, workshops, fitness and spa area.

Starting with level 3, the cubes become rooms where the person who wants to inhale salty air while relaxing can do so in a well-designed environment.

The following levels are populated by rooms for the purpose of temporary accommodation, the terrace of the building being used as a cafe.

Considering the proximity of the building to the salt slope, it was used as an aesthetic element in the construction, the hotel being open at the back towards the salt. Moreover, the distribution corridors in the rooms have cutouts in order to keep contact with large strips of exposed salt.

Broadly recapitulating, all the proposed interventions have the role of revitalizing an area with proven potential, from the systematization and marking of access to the provision of landscaped spaces along the entire length of the mine.

PRAHOVA SALT MINE

Slănic, Prahova County, ROMANIA

October 2018

for UAUIM Bucharest, fifth year

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă, Diana Gabriela Măntoiu

PUBLIC BUILDING

"REHABILITATION OF AN URBAN ROUTE - MOSILOR AREA"

After the analysis of the area, it became clear that Calea Mosilor road had a great historical significance, representing the most important commercial road in Bucharest connecting the centrally located royal court with the largest peripherical market.

The commercial character can also be read on a larger scale, where the road was an economic axis that connected the royal court with Moldova and the ports of Galatia and Braila. This commercial character was preserved for a very long time until the systematization of the 70s.

Following the analysis of the context, I decided on the following approaches: at the functional level, there will be commercial spaces on the ground floor area with the aim of gathering the small traders of the area in one place, but also with the aim of creating a core that draws people in.

Calea Moșilor should become pedestrian in the area of the site as such I propose a second axis of travel that passes through the interior of the commercial core. This axis starts in the area of the intersection from the northeast, runs through the proposed space and reaches the pedestrian area of the other intersection.

With regards to the height regime, I proposed gluing the building to the existent empty walls created by neighbouring structures, a slight descent in the middle of the site and in the area of the church a volumetric gesture that recognizes the presence of the church and conforms to it.

Thus, the ground floor has multiple commercial spaces where people have the freedom to organize themselves as they wish, in the south-west body there is the lobby for the upstairs offices and at the opposite end there is the main access to public halls.

The exterior arrangement is given by a two meter wide wooden road that refers to the historical past, where the road was initially covered with wood, this road behaves like a wave that ricochets inside the courtyard and creates the second axis mentioned earlier. At both ends, the road closes in waterholes, terraces are placed in the joints created by it while everything is surrounded by grass.

On the first floor, the south-west part, there are spaces for renting, co-working, while at the other end there is a restaurant.

The following floors follow the same two main functions, both the restaurant and the rental spaces opening onto the terraces.

With regards to the facades, there is a difference in treatment. The work area being more intimate, the openings being given by the strips of ceiling, and in contrast, the restaurant benefits from wide surfaces of glass.

PUBLIC BUILDING

Bucharest, ROMANIA

March 2016

for UAUIM Bucharest, third year

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă

UAUIM DIPLOMA PROJECT

"URBAN WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION, GALATI"

The project aims to reactivate the old harbour area in the city of Galati, currently underexploited. The intervention acts on a macro scale through the means of a masterplan as well as on a micro scale through proposing a detailed architectural object.

The masterplan gets conceptualized upon studying and understanding the needs of the area. Although the natural setting is unique through the presence of the river Danube, with a width of 600 m at the site,  waterfront access is limited, the area having a low degree of permeability. The built environment is mainly shaped by abandoned industrial structures or ones that see low usage.

The masterplan aims to address both the issues of permeability as well as the complete restructuring of the functional system of the area for the purpose of keeping the land active with users. First step involves relocating the light structured industrial warehouses, that see low usage, to more appropiate parts of the site such as the functioning railyway. The heavy structured warehouses are left in place and functionally reconverted. The action of dismantling and relocating warehouses helps increase the permeability level of the area while generating and encouraging new pedestrian walkways.

The functional restructuring involves raising the degree of dwelling in the area. The urban fabric hosting dwellings is proposed to be extended to such degree that it occupies the previous industrial site and makes use of a street logic resembling the old historical one. The purpose for this refunctionalization is having the area populated even after the usual work hours have ended.

The architectural insertion sits on the waterfront having a direct view to the Danube. It defines the easternmost point of the main Danube walkway and it is proposed to house public functions. The concept aims to have the building perceived from the Danube as a warehouse silhouette, typical visual landmark of the area. At the same time the building contributes to maximizing the degree of waterfront permeability through passageways allowing free movement betwen the city and the waterfront.

Regarding the functional aspects the building features a commercial first and second floor, an ample garden facing the Danube with direct access to the water. It features office spaces addressing the direct demand of the industrial area it is located in as well as an art gallery and a restaurant. The topmost floor features two terraces, one exclusive to the restaurant while the other is completely open to the public.

DOORSCAPE - The Space Beyond the Threshold (competition)

Venice, ITALY

May 2023

for OIKOS Venezia, Fondazione Querini Stampalia

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă, Gabriel Chivu, Bogdan Postole

UAUIM DIPLOMA PROJECT

Galati, ROMANIA

July 2021

for UAUIM Bucharest (m.arch degree)

by Victor Cătălin Tanasă