The eastern Romanian city of Iași is to undergo a radical transformation following the development of a stunning masterplan by an acclaimed London-based architectural studio.
Placing the city’s 20th-century Palace of Culture at its heart, the project envisages the creation of spectacular landscaped areas alongside preserved archeological remains and a new indoor-outdoor plaza defined by its floor-to-ceiling glass facade.
Other elements will include waterfalls, an outdoor amphitheater and a public space outside the theater.
“The masterplan completely revitalizes the heart of the city and improves connections to its center with generous, tree-lined pedestrian walkways,” said Stefan Behling of Foster + Partners, the architectural studio behind the project, which is also responsible for designing London’s Gherkin skyscraper, Berlin's Reichstag dome and Apple’s corporate headquarters in California.
Other elements will include waterfalls, an outdoor amphitheater and a public space outside the theater.
“The masterplan completely revitalizes the heart of the city and improves connections to its center with generous, tree-lined pedestrian walkways,” said Stefan Behling of Foster + Partners, the architectural studio behind the project, which is also responsible for designing London’s Gherkin skyscraper, Berlin's Reichstag dome and Apple’s corporate headquarters in California.
“Greenery and incredible new public spaces are woven through the urban realm, transforming the city experience and reframing the spectacular Palace of Culture,” he added.
The investment will include 80,000 sq/m of retail space and will upgrade existing infrastructure, such as the events hall, while enhancing the green space around and improving urban connectivity.
The investment will include 80,000 sq/m of retail space and will upgrade existing infrastructure, such as the events hall, while enhancing the green space around and improving urban connectivity.
“We are preserving historic features within the landscape and incorporating traditional Romanian patterns to celebrate the city of Iași—and ensure the scheme sensitively reflects its context,” said Daniel Zielinski of Foster + Partners.
Set to cost 80 million euros, the work, which has already begun, will be conducted in different stages.
Its focal point will remain, however, the Palace of Culture, a staggering Neo-Gothic edifice that was officially inaugurated in 1926 by King Ferdinand I.
Set to cost 80 million euros, the work, which has already begun, will be conducted in different stages.
Its focal point will remain, however, the Palace of Culture, a staggering Neo-Gothic edifice that was officially inaugurated in 1926 by King Ferdinand I.
Constructed on the site of the 19th-century Princely Palace of Moldavia, it took 20 years to build, with its incomplete shell serving as a military hospital during WWI. Later, during WWII, it housed German troops and then soldiers from the Red Army.
Containing 298 rooms, the building has since served numerous cultural functions and to this day houses the country’s largest and oldest art collection, as well as museums dedicated to the region of Moldavia, the area’s ethnography, and a science and technology museum.
Containing 298 rooms, the building has since served numerous cultural functions and to this day houses the country’s largest and oldest art collection, as well as museums dedicated to the region of Moldavia, the area’s ethnography, and a science and technology museum.
“Our design seamlessly reconnects Palas with its surroundings and extends the experience of the park through the atrium and across the rooftops. The revitalized building features an indoor-outdoor public plaza, which will open onto the landscape and create new lines of sight toward the palace,” says Maximilian Zielinski of Foster + Partners.
The investment is the first Romanian project authored by the studio, which was first founded by ‘starchitect’ Norman Foster in 1967.
The investment is the first Romanian project authored by the studio, which was first founded by ‘starchitect’ Norman Foster in 1967.
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