diploma project /
REHABILITATION AND EXTENSION OF
ASSAN’S MILL
reconnecting with local traditions a center for exhibitions, events and retail
student / mentors / engineer /
costin MORARU octavian NECULAI codina DUSOIU ruxandra KARI
Assan’s Mill and local traditions /
Built in 1853, Assan’s Mill is one of the oldest and most valuable industrial landmarks still left standing in Bucharest. The site was always geared towards what was new and innovative: not only was it the first steam mill in Romania, but the structure’s original chimney was, at the time of it’s construction, 25 meters high, an unprecedented situation. Half a century later, in 1906, the new grain silo would surpass everyone’s expectation: standing over 30 meters high, it was the city’s tallest building and remained a landmark for the surrounding area for a long time. The mill gained momentum and expanded into new branches over the years (soaps, paint), in order to best suit the area’s demands. Located in the central - east area of Bucharest, Assan’s Mill always maintained a strong bond with it’s vicinites. The Obor area was - and still is - an important center of commerce. When the mill was first built in the middle of the nineteenth century, Obor held a fair called “Targu D’Afara”, as it was then the city’s limit. Originally focusing on cattle and hay, the fairs became over time larger than life events, incorporating not only traditional and hand made products, but also travelling circuses (strong men, freak shows, fortune tellers), carnival rides and concerts. Assan’s mill and Obor have always been intertwined. The first was a catalyst for urban evolution and thus triggered a series of events dealing with the apparent discrepancy between hand-made and factory-made.
SITE LOCATION
ASSAN’S MILL | A TIMELINE visualizing the site’s lasting bond with it’s surroundings
EXISTING SITE PLAN
The evaluation of the existing structures is based on the following 3 criteria: 1. Uniqueness; 2. Cultural Identity; 3. Aesthetics and construction technique;
a. valuable building; b. neutral building; c. harmful building;
VALUABLE BUILDINGS
BUILDING “A”: ROMANIA’S FRIST STEAM MILL characteristics / - brick structure, with a precise rhythm, and two axis of symmetry current state / - the building is left in ruins, with only the facades left standing - the extensions that have been added to the building covered up some of the existing windows, and act like “parasites” with the original building, instead of complementing it; harnessed elements / - the original brick walls and windows of the iconic and culturally significant building; - the adjacent extensions will be demolished, as they arenot culturally or aesthetically significant, can’t be used in their current state and hide the original building design;
VALUABLE BUILDINGS
BUILDING “B”: THE GRAIN SILO characteristics / - brick structure, and one axis of symmetry; strong rhythm at lower levels; no windows on the upper levels; - distinct plan layout: rigid lower levels with thick brick walls, as opposed to a free space with an enourmous height (aprox. 18m) on top; current state / - most of the building still stands, but it has been vandalized; - the building caught on fire in recent years, and the roof has collapsed; harnessed elements / - having relatively small damage on the exterior, the silo’s aspect won’t suffer any changes, but the building will be rehabilitated, and the proposal will focus on the interior; - the original plan layout must be highlighted in the new proposal;
VALUABLE BUILDINGS
BUILDING “C”: THE “NEW” MILL characteristics / - brick structure, with a precise rhythm; although it originally had one axis of symmetry, it was lost due to the changes it suffered over time; current state / - the building is left in ruins, with the North facade mostly collapsed; - no interior structure remains; - the window spaces have severe damage; harnessed elements / - the facade will be preserved in it’s current state (the North wall won’t be reconstructed); reclaimed bricks from the site will fill the smaller collapsed parts (window areas);
Working with the industrial site /
By using modern day adaptive re-use techniques, the project aims at revisiting and updating local customs, striving towards bringing back the environment that was part of Bucharest’s essence. The proposed project fully utilizes the large, versatile spaces specific to industrial buildings. One of the project’s main concerns is to take advantage of the site’s layout, comprised of multiple, separate, buildings, in order to create spaces that work great individually but also complement each other, creating a rich, immersive user experience. The site is meant to be developed in three different stages, and the project focuses on the first stage, the reuse and extension of the site’s valuable buildings - essentially creating a core structure that truly captures the project’s vision.
PROPOSED SITE PLAN
1. open air bazaar 2. museum of traditional fairs 3. workshop for traditional crafts 4. storage spaces; technical spaces 5. farmer’s market/ commercial spaces
6. recycling and sorting center 7. accommodation 8. administration 9. multifunctional urban square 10. sports fields
11. playground 12. green spaces/parks 13. visitors’ parking lot (95 spots) 14. visitors’ parking lot (50 spots) 15. employee/delivery parking lot
AXONOMETRIC PROJECTION
DEVELOPMENT STAGES phase I
phase II
phase III
phase I / DEVELOPING THE CORE STRUCTURE - involves the valuable existing buildings, their rehabilitation and reuse (Building “A” - an open air bazar, Building “B” retail spaces and a museum of traditional Romanian fairs, Building “C” - workshops for traditional Romanian crafts) - sets the tone for the rest of the project; - sparks interest in both investors and users; - creates public spaces and green areas; phase II/ ENHANCING REVENUE - involves the neutral buildings; - focuses on creating revenue-generating spaces (a farmer’s market and commercial center, accommodation) phase III/ ROUNDING UP THE PROJECT - involves the remainder of the neutral buildings; - focuses on creating complementary spaces that facilitate the site’s use (storage and technical spaces, separate administration building, sorting and recycling centre);
phase I / GROUND FLOOR PLAN
An Open Air Bazaar /
Only the external brick walls of the original, nineteenth century mill remain. It now becomes a multipurpose space. When it’s empty, the building is an exhibit in itself. When in hosts events, such as a bazaar focused on hand made products and traditional techniques, it becomes a place full of life. A steel support system is set in place, with a roof covered with Efte waterproof netting, providing a clear perception over the original structure and what’s new.
BUILDING “A” / AN OPEN AIR BAZAAR
facades
sections
ground floor plan
A Museum of Traditional Fairs /
The former grain silo now hosts a museum of traditional Romanian fairs - a look back at their evolution and contribution to Romanian culture throughout history. The intervention is set to highlight and work with the original structure. On the lower floors, that have a specific, more rigid layout, the aim is to create a route in order to truly explore the spaces. The ground and first floor host a D.I.Y. shop (in lieu of a gift shop) and a specialty bookstore, focused on traditional craftsmanship techniques (but featuring various media formats such as projections or folk music). The museum itself is located on the upper floor, a massive free space fit for large exhibitions. A series of metal platforms are created in order to let the user fully experience the scale of this space, but also suggest a trail he can follow for a dynamic experience in which he is offered different points of perception. Structurally, the existing walls are reinforced in order to sustain the proposed platforms.
BUILDING “B” / A MUSEUM OF TRADITIONAL FAIRS
ground floor plan
1st floor plan
2nd floor plan
section
section
BUILDING “B” / A MUSEUM OF TRADITIONAL FAIRS
facades
BUILDING “B” / A MUSEUM OF TRADITIONAL FAIRS
construction details
Sezãtoare - an updated concept /
“Sezãtoarea” is a Romanian tradition in which people gather to work, but also socialize. The building aims at revising that concept by creating fluent, communicative spaces geared towards traditional cratfsmanship. The building’s core consists of a series of interconnected workshops (that range from woodwork and framing to embroidery and sewing) combined with spaces for socializing (a bar, a restaurant, and even an exhibition where the creatives can sell their projects). The existing building suffered the most damage, with no interior structure remaining and most of the North wall collapsed. The intervention only reconstructs the window areas with reclaimed bricks, but not the entire facade, as it’s meant to highlight the damage the building has suffered. A new, unimposing yet beautifully powerful polycarbonate facade complements what was already there. Structurally, the brick walls are reinforced from the interior, and a new structure is created, using truss beams and poles made out of metallic tubes filled with concrete.
BUILDING “C” / SEZATOARE - AN UPDATED CONCEPT
sections
ground floor plan
facades
2nd floor plan
BUILDING “C” / SEZATOARE - AN UPDATED CONCEPT
facades
4th floor plan
WORKSHOPS
BIRDSEYE VIEW
EYE LEVEL VIEW
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