Article source: blipsz architecture

The Mayor’s Office of Toplita initiates the rehabilitation of a former industrial facility ahead of the great majority of towns in Romania. Instead of keeping away from these types of real estate values or adopting a scheme of denial, concealment, the proposal „raises” the building from the level of an infrastructural facility to the grade of a community facility: and creating the charming metaphore of a former heating facility as a lively social center.

Image Courtesy © Zsolt SZÉNÁSI

• Architects: blipsz architecture 
• Project: The Social Plant
• Location: Toplița, Romania
• Photography: Zsolt SZÉNÁSI
• Architecture, general planning: BLIPSZ, Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvár / Klausenburg, Transylvania, RO
• Authors: István PÁSZTOR , István BENEDEK, Zsolt SZÉNÁSI + VALLUM (architecture, general planning consultants in the feasability stage)
• Structure: Total Project Group – László CSÍKI
• Installations: BDR Construct – Dan-Constantin BARB
• Contractor: T.C.I. Contractor General, Cluj
• Design / execution: 2008-2010 / 2012
• Program: Social center including social services offices, temporary accomodation and public canteen
• Built area: 506 sqm
• Gross built area: 1376 sqm
• Funding: public
• Budget: approx. 750 000 EUR
• Software used: Autocad and Sketchup

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