Magic Blocks
Scenarios for collective dwellings built in the Socialist era                


Topics of the project
All over former Eastern Europe, collective dwellings built in the Socialist era are now in a critical state, in terms both of their structure and their social function. Privatization of this housing fund in the early 90s led to a paradoxical situation. On the one hand, complete social disintegration has left to a chaotic individual development of the units (apartments) and derelict communal spaces. Complete rehabilitation of this housing no longer appears even remotely possible. On the other hand, despite its physical similarities with housing estates in Western countries, this housing was created not to serve disadvantaged social groups (i.e. as “social housing”) but as a political means to level class differences (i.e.: as “housing for everybody”). Few alternatives were available and these neighborhoods consequently still enjoy a degree of social mix and urbanity – although its decline has certainly set in.
 
Bucharest, one of the largest cities in South-Eastern Europe, is characterized by this type of prefab housing, which accounts for 70 per cent of the city’s total housing stock. Bucharest’s development was quite specific however: large estates developments were here planned as extensions of the city, not as new towns; a huge number of them are situated in the inner city core, the result of totalitarian planning in the 1980s; and the radical socio-political upheaval of 1989 caused abrupt, extensive change. This makes it a perfect place to study the relationship between totalitarian planning and ultra-liberal growth, between the collective and the individual, and the private and the public spheres.
 
The project’s objectives are to analyze the current state of collective dwellings built in the socialist era in Bucharest and to develop urban, architectural, technical and legislative strategies for these neighborhoods. The project’s long-term aim is to support existing programs and also to develop new strategies and model projects.

EXHIBITION IN FALL IN BUCHAREST:
•         Date: end of October - end of November
•         Location: Museum of the Romanian Peasant
•         Content and description
The exhibition concentrates on the emergency of action, but also the potential of these areas. The possible strategies for action will be highlighted and model solutions (applied on the three case studies) will be proposed, in order to verify and express the ideas and also to promote the strategies.
A part of the exhibition will be conceived as an interactive installation on the meaning and the potential of public space in these areas.
A publication in the form of a book on the subject (bilingual –Romanian –English) will be produced and launched on this occasion.
The exhibition aims at a larger audience - not only specialists, but also the administration, the cultural public, the civil society and the inhabitants of these structures.
•         Producers: Zeppelin Foundation, Point4, Archis Interventions
•         Partners:
ERSTE Foundation
Austrian Cultural Forum Bucharest
The Royal Netherlands Embassy Bucharest
The Union of Romanian Architects

CONFERENCE IN FALL IN BUCHAREST:
•         Date: end of October –it will be integrated with the opening of the exhibition
•         Location: Museum of the Romanian Peasant
•         Content: three public conferences on the topic of the project and on international experience in the matter. They will be addressed to professionals, the administration, home owners associations, journalists
•         Participants: two by foreign specialists (Kai Vöckler, Marko Sancanin) and one Romanian representative of the team. The event will be extended with other specialists/organizations (as presented below).

Partners:
ERSTE Foundation
Austrian Cultural Forum Bucharest
The Royal Netherlands Embassy Bucharest
The Union of Romanian Architects
 
There will be additional presentations by internationally renowned specialists. They will focus on the importance to provide cities in need with clues and concepts to revive the public domain, to re-energize its urban spirit and to revitalize its trust in dialogue as the essence of civic life. Speakers will present their strategies.

Invited organizations (in the process of confirmation):
Zagreb: Platforma 9,81, Croatia ( see seenetwork.org)
Esterni, Italy
Feld 72 , Austria
EXPEDITIO, Montenegro (see seenetwork.org)
FLUX, Belgrade (see seenetwork.org)
Studiobasar, Bucharest

Project financed by the The Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Program