The workshop was part of an integrated sustainable development of Baia Sprie town, which is positioned on the mining belt in the north-west region of Maramures county in Romania. The communities located in the points which define the belt ended their miners activities, so there was a significant reconversion at a professional and structural level, thus generating several important sights of the region: Nistru, Chiuzbaia, Suior, Cavnic Băiuţ, etc.
The workshop aimed at several key routes and various important points that took place on the former technological tracks and connecting trails of the mining activities, which separates the region located between Baia Sprie and Chiuzbaia. The oldest technological route of the area is an old aqueduct linking flotation Chiuzbaia to the flotation of Baia Sprie, now known as Water Road - turned into tourist trail for hiking. The Mine Hill is the largest area studied here and also outlines a blueprint for nine centuries of mining. A third important area that was studied was the network of streets in the residential area of Baia Sprie, branching at the base on The Mine Hill. The community catalyst element is Calvary Chapel who represents the connection between the spiritual difficulties of miners and Mine Hill, which received a special attention in the workshop, as it is located at the threshold between the town and Mine Hill.
The workshop and interventions were generated within the primary aim of supporting important points and trails connecting them and also the exposure of the entire historical and cultural package acquired by local mining.
Throughout the two weeks the workshop held various lectures on different topics: planning, landscaping, mining and local culture, sociology, sustainable integrated development plans, etc. There were many informative and entertaining hikes on the routes and places in question, dispersed through extra-urban recreational green areas. There were sessions of team building and socializing, visiting various tourist spots mentioned above and visits in the historical Maramures region.
The participants were architects and landscape design students, which worked in mixed teams of 4 or 5. Each team had a supervisor (professional architect or landscape designer) which answered all their questions and worked tight with them in finding a suitable concept of the project received to accomplish in 2 weeks. At the end of the workshop, they had to present their projects in front of numerous inhabitants and the mayor of Baia Sprie.
My team was in charge of the urban furniture and public spaces. We design new benches (some of them with support for bicycles, ornamental flower pots or drinking fountains), new trash cans and furniture for playgrounds. Also we were given to design the front yard of a famous local pottery shop, which desired an open-to-public traditional bread and pie oven, a get-together place for residents and tourists. Some points of the public spaces were highlighted during night time using special lighting for vegetation and pavement. The proposed materials for the furniture were concrete clad with stones, wood and metal resistant to corrosion.
This way, I would like to thank my team: Stefania Dobrican, Claudia Beta, Bianca Fanta, Ioana Vlad for their vision and hard work during the workshop. I am proud that we accomplished to put together everything that we were asked for and objectified our ideas in one. I learned something new from each of you and for that I am grateful.
