PIATA UNIVERSITATII, BUCURESTI
DESIGN THE PUBLIC SPACE ABOVE THE PARKING IN UNIVERSITATII SQUARE, BUCHAREST
Object of the contest: design of the public space in relation to the existing architectural background and the new conditions imposed by the underground parking in Universitatii Square
Client: Bucharest Municipality
Location: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
Universitatii Square is the place with the best chance to become a representative urban square for Bucharest because of the relationship with a significant building, the historical site (located on the former site of the Monastery of St. Sava and the Royal Academy), the resource space for pedestrians, the urban connectivity, the proximity to the historic centre and its cultural and social symbolism. Is the place in Bucharest where one can best perceive a society's efforts, continued for many generations, to follow an idea of the complex and subtle urban composition.
Universitatii Square is designed as an urban salon free of any unnecessary objects, ready to receive its visitors, and in which the focal points are the four statues. They become centres of interest, ordering elements at the intersection of the structural axes of space, but also resting and meeting spaces.
The location of the statues is directly related to the configuration of space, mainly to the University building, and we have not considered appropriate to amend it. Evolutionary remnant from the city, the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave is brought back to the forefront by raising a podium to about 1.20 m.
The first stage of existence of this space is marked in the pavement under the form of the contour of the monastery of St. Sava and its church axis. Thus, it is emphasized the fact that the square occupies the place of the former monastery and the statue of Michael the Brave occupies the place of the former church. The shaping of the market in the late nineteenth century is visible by marking the central island around the statue of Michael the Brave and underlining a level difference of the hemicycle.
The impact of the technical elements of the parking is minimized: ramps reduced in length with about 10m, exhaust grilles solved in the pavement, the ramp walls and the access pavilion (stairs + elevator) are proposed to be made of clear glass.
Pavement is simple, homogeneous, of mat white marble slabs, size 180x180cm and placed at 45 degrees, which emphasize the architectural details of statues and buildings nearby.
The asymmetric treatment of Toma Caragiu Street sides lead to a "correct" N-S axis of the square and the symbolic orientation towards the Russian Church as preferable end of perspective.
Resting places in the square are the architectural elements: the steps of the statues and of the hemicycle, stone bollards. On Toma Caragiu Street is created a different atmosphere, more relaxed, where there is space for summer terraces and wooden benches.
Object of the contest: design of the public space in relation to the existing architectural background and the new conditions imposed by the underground parking in Universitatii Square
Client: Bucharest Municipality
Location: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
Universitatii Square is the place with the best chance to become a representative urban square for Bucharest because of the relationship with a significant building, the historical site (located on the former site of the Monastery of St. Sava and the Royal Academy), the resource space for pedestrians, the urban connectivity, the proximity to the historic centre and its cultural and social symbolism. Is the place in Bucharest where one can best perceive a society's efforts, continued for many generations, to follow an idea of the complex and subtle urban composition.
Universitatii Square is designed as an urban salon free of any unnecessary objects, ready to receive its visitors, and in which the focal points are the four statues. They become centres of interest, ordering elements at the intersection of the structural axes of space, but also resting and meeting spaces.
The location of the statues is directly related to the configuration of space, mainly to the University building, and we have not considered appropriate to amend it. Evolutionary remnant from the city, the equestrian statue of Michael the Brave is brought back to the forefront by raising a podium to about 1.20 m.
The first stage of existence of this space is marked in the pavement under the form of the contour of the monastery of St. Sava and its church axis. Thus, it is emphasized the fact that the square occupies the place of the former monastery and the statue of Michael the Brave occupies the place of the former church. The shaping of the market in the late nineteenth century is visible by marking the central island around the statue of Michael the Brave and underlining a level difference of the hemicycle.
The impact of the technical elements of the parking is minimized: ramps reduced in length with about 10m, exhaust grilles solved in the pavement, the ramp walls and the access pavilion (stairs + elevator) are proposed to be made of clear glass.
Pavement is simple, homogeneous, of mat white marble slabs, size 180x180cm and placed at 45 degrees, which emphasize the architectural details of statues and buildings nearby.
The asymmetric treatment of Toma Caragiu Street sides lead to a "correct" N-S axis of the square and the symbolic orientation towards the Russian Church as preferable end of perspective.
Resting places in the square are the architectural elements: the steps of the statues and of the hemicycle, stone bollards. On Toma Caragiu Street is created a different atmosphere, more relaxed, where there is space for summer terraces and wooden benches.
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