VIRTUAL Barcelona

Abstract

Urban regeneration and architectural rehabilitation in the context of communist collective housing developments are complex processes that involve multiple factors, such as an effective legal and policy framework; upgrading the infrastructure; projects need to be economically viable to ensure long-term sustainability; the socio-economic needs of the residents; community engagement; careful consideration of the existing structures and their potential for adaptation and improvement. Adaptive reuse, retrofitting, and renovation techniques can be employed to revitalize the housing complexes while preserving their architectural heritage. Design interventions should focus on enhancing functionality, comfort, and aesthetics while promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. These factors should be taken into consideration holistically to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by communist collective housing developments during urban regeneration and architectural rehabilitation initiatives. The paper examines the challenges in the urban re-design of former communist cities to become more sustainable. We focus on a study case of Târgu-Mureș, Romania a medium size city, which provides a strong analytical case for two reasons: it has a historical nucleus that needs to be preserved and an industrial/ typical communist design. Moreover, it is a multicultural city that imposes but also generates difficulties in respecting each community’s legacy. In addition, the fact that it is a representative city for the Secession/Art Nouveau current in Central and Eastern Europe must also be considered.