23 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF ROMANIAN HERITAGE AND COMMUNITIES
Proiect – SoNoRo

Proiect – SoNoRo

We Like the Project “SoNoRo Conac”!

In 2013, the Sonoro Association started a new project – SoNoRo Conac, whose aim is to highlight the need for respect, attention and support for Romania’s extraordinary cultural heritage and resources by associating music with the architectural masterpieces in Romania. They performed concerts in heritage buildings such as Bran Castle, Petre P. Carp Mansion (Ţibăneşti, Iaşi County), Teleki Palace, Gorneşti, Udrişte-Năsturel Mansion, Hereşti.

SoNoRo Conac grew from the idea of resetting chamber music in its original space of an intimate nature, ideal for cultural dialogue and active listening in front of a small audience. This project aims to raise public awareness wit respect to the multitude of rehabilitated heritage buildings – fabulous, spectacular, elegant buildings that need to be reintroduced into the cultural circuit.

http://conac.sonoro.ro/

Proiect – Rempart

Proiect – Rempart

We like the French association Rempart which provides social insertion and trains volunteers for the restoration sites of historical monuments in France and abroad.

The Network of Associations in the Benefit of Heritage / L’union d’associations de sauvegarde, du patrimoine et d’éducation populaire – Rempart, France joins us in the workshops held at Carp Manor in Țibănești, Iași County.

http://www.rempart.com/

HISTORIC GARDEN

HISTORIC GARDEN

We really like the complex project Grădina istorică (Historic Garden) created by Ierburi uitate (Forgotten Herbs) in collaboration with the Botanical Garden Dimitrie Brândză, University of Bucharest (opened in 1860!).

The authors of the project launched in September 2017 at the Botanical Garden reveal a bit of their concept to us:

”At the end of the field, after the amphitheater area where we plan to organize garden activities starting from spring, we designed a clearing. Now, of course, there is not much of it there, just barren ground, tiller hoed and finely raked, but a few days ago, after we finally got the seeds, we sowed our first plants on this patch.

The clearing will host a few bee hives and insect hotel, and for them as well as for us, we sowed a mixture of annual and perennial flowers only a few days ago, chosen to grow both in the sun and in the shade.

We selected a few dozen species, among which many melliferous plants are included (…): Erysimum, Malcolmia, Silene, Coreopsis, Eschscholzia, Alyssum, Saponaria, Cerastium, Bidens, Dracopis, Sanvitalia, Achillea, Borago, Papaver, Malva, Lathyrus, Digitalis, Aquilegia, Viola, Lobelia, Campanula, Mirabilis, Dianthus, Echium, Phacelia, Reseda, Myosotis, Lychnis, Centaurea, Oenothera, Lupine, Anethum, Lunaria, Cosmos. As you see, many of our insects will enjoy the best them from the first days of spring to late autumn.”

More details here:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gr%C4%83dina-Istoric%C4%83/1343799599082433?hc_ref=ARQfRC6xTlN1XNeCzL9SMlFtN-pTh8ngcoL4A-vQg0fJiiNUxxWPA7oahDvY4GbR2xo

Work in progress: http://www.gradinaistorica.ro/

LES COMPAGNONS DU DEVOIR

LES COMPAGNONS DU DEVOIR

We like the French from Les Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France for the way they preserve, arrange and pass on traditional crafts that help save and rebuild the tangible heritage.

Pro Patrimonio has been working with Les Compagnons du Devoir since 2007 at the traditional craft workshop/school at P.P. Carp Manor from Ţibăneşti, Iaşi County.

http://www.compagnons-du-devoir.com/

AMBULANCE FOR MONUMENTS

AMBULANCE FOR MONUMENTS

We like the project Ambulance for Monuments created and implemented by architect Eugene Vaida, president of the Monumentum from Alțâna, jud. Sibiu (link http://asociatiamonumentum.ro/cms/).

Ambulance for Monuments is a pilot project that aims to act effectively for safeguarding the intangible heritage by securing the objectives of major assets that are in bad condition or structural precollapse.

details here http://ambulanta-pentru-monumente.ro/

 

Forgotten Textures: Inter-war Bucharest. Project End.

Forgotten Textures: Inter-war Bucharest. Project End.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019, 6:30 pm in the Nod makerspace, MATER hall – Library of Materials in Splaiul Unirii no.160, we invite you to the opening of the photo exhibition “Forgotten textures: Inter-war Bucharest”, launch of the guide “Forgotten textures: Inter-war Bucharest . Plastering recipe book” and the collection of historical plaster samples.

This moment marks the end of an eight-month project where the Pro Patrimonio Foundation has researched four types of inter-war facade plastering: simili stone, mosaic, terracotta and stone dust plaster.

Inspired by the city of Bucharest, the project explored the “secrets” of the Modernist facades in the capital made between 1918 and 1940. A first stage involved library research to document the recipes of inter-war plaster mortars and their way of use – specific to Romania, but also comparisons with techniques from the same period from other countries. In parallel, these textures were photographically inventoried on the field, and in September a series of practical workshops were held to test the documented recipes and application techniques on 60x60cm samples in order to preserve and revitalize the old techniques / technologies.

During the days of the European Cultural Heritage we organized a series of guided tours to observe the lot left over from Modernist buildings in Bucharest and we prepared practical site tests with the mason invited by the Maison Paysanne de France Association, Patrice Leu, specialized in traditional techniques. From the discussions carried out in the workshops and the debate on the forgotten texts of Modernist architecture, we have come to some conclusions also supported by our guest:

  1. lack of trained workforce in the field of conservation / restoration of historical buildings in Romania. There is a great need for specialized schools for the training of craftsmen in the built heritage sector.
  2. inter-war plastering and their application techniques should not be lost as it still has great potential for innovation in contemporary architecture.
  3. historical plastering, unlike the ones used today, require time, specific notions of execution and skilled hands.
  4. In the processes of present rehabilitation, consolidation or renovation, the plasterings are the first architectural elements to be sacrificed. A change of attitude in professionals and society is absolutely necessary to preserve historic buildings and specific architectural details.

The result of this research period is a recipe guide, six plaster samples recreated in today’s context and a series of photographic observations of the city’s textures made by the architect Andrei Mărgulescu. The project aims to be a first step in the study of Modernist finishes in Romania. This is an original step of the period after 1989 and, at the same time, a direct invitation to all parties involved in the field of construction and architecture to continue the investigations.

“The searches were determined by the personal interest for the historical texts of the city and by a concrete case of restoration in which I was involved. These have materialized, within the Pro Patrimonio Foundation, in a research adventure. The guide was born due to the lack of specialized documentation in the field of constructions in Romania that could provide information on the typology of inter-war plastering”. – architect Ruxandra Sacaliş, the author of the recipe guide.

The guide contains useful information, both theoretical and practical, about materials, ingredients, recipes, finishing techniques, decorative textures and work tools, common degradation. The Forgotten Textures: Inter-war Bucharest. Plastering recipe is intended for practical use and will be available in a small print series, but also in a digital version. Also, the recipe guide aims to be an instrument of awareness for the general public and specialists in the field in relation to the cultural and historical significance of inter-war plasters.

“The plastering recipe book of Ruxandra Sacaliş and the working team represents a very interesting and useful step for the restoration and maintenance of heritage built during the inter-war period. The honesty of the participating teams’ approach – masters and architects – develops a future extended process and a communication system adequate to give a real chance to a still surviving culture of the built Bucharest still has and that we can enrich. The experiment and the research can be done in small groups, with different professions which communicate well with each other. I invite you to try it, it is a chance for the future architectural textures that we all need. Attention, the domain is inexhaustible. ” – architect Şerban Sturdza, project manager.

A Pro Patrimonio Foundation Project

Project manager: architect Șerban Sturdza

Documenting coordinator: arch. Ruxandra Sacaliș

Practical workshop coordinator: Arch. Andreea Machidon

Photo documentation: architect Andrei Mărgulescu

Guide editor: Mirela Duculescu

Graphic Design: Mona Petre

A cultural project co-financed by AFCN. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project can be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary of the financing.

Partners: Cella Cosimex, The Institute for Speleology, Hasit, Node makerspace, MATER hall – Library of Materials, Theda Mar and the Technical University for Constructions, Bucharest.

Resources

Facebook event http://bit.ly/Tencuieli

Attached photos

Picture 01 – Collage of combed, polished, sharpened interwoven textures and decorative profile …. Photo credit: Andrei Mărgulescu

Picture 02 – Example Spread of the Guide Plaster Recipe


ROSIA MONTANA

ROSIA MONTANA

Roşia Montană – Cultural Landscape, Heritage, Environment and Mining

Pro Patrimonio Foundation has been actively involved in efforts to recognize the unique universal value of the historic site of Roşia Montană (Alba County). Among other actions, it supported the financing of the archeology report written in 2010 by British expert archaeologists from Oxford and Leicester universities.

Pro Patrimonio Foundation consistently supported the inclusion of Roşia Montană on the UNESCO heritage list and in 2013 suggested its inclusion in Europe Nostra’s 7 most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe program.

On 4 January 2017 The Ministry of Culture sent the Roşia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape to UNESCO. Peisajul Cultural Minier Roșia Montană. Submitting the file for the World Heritage list was made with the fully responsible action of Minister of Culture Corina Şuteu, after informing and consulting with Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The protection of our national heritage is one of the main responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture and falls within its fundamental prerogatives. Roşia Montană’s submission to UNESCO ends a process started in 2011 (when the National Commission of Historic Monuments officially recommended the Ministry of Culture to include Roşia Montană on the UNESCO heritage list) and continued during Dacian Cioloş’s government mandate, adding in February 2016 Roşia Montană to Romania’s Indicative List for UNESCO. ”
(extract, Ministry of Culture, January 4, 2017, https://rosiamontana.world/

Updated news about the ongoing process to include the Roşia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape in the UNESCO World Heritage List, its stages and evolution can be found at https://rosiamontana.world/, , a website implemented by the Romanian National Heritage Institute.

Pro Patrimonio Foundation gives some brief info on this subject (1999-2013):

    What is it about?

A private company (Rosia Montana Gold Corporation, abbreviated to RMGC) has conceded the right of exploitation from the Romanian state and proposes an open-pit mining project. The project was proposed in 1999, and has not yet been able to obtain the necessary legal clearing and approvals to start work. Why? Because the project does not comply with the Romanian legislation, because it represents a great threat to the environment and because much of the exploitation would take place on private property plots. The history of this project and the notices canceled in Court http://rosiamontana.org/node/291

  1. Why haven’t you heard anything about Rosia Montana these past years?

The silence of the press well as the acceptance of the project by politicians were bought by the private company. http://stirile.rol.ro/rosia-montana-cati-bani-a-primit-presa-de-la-rmgc-in-ultimii-ani-889925.html

what televisions are advertising the mining project

http://www.paginademedia.ro/2013/09/ce-televiziuni-au-avut-publicitate-de-la-rosia-montana-niciun-post-nu-a-fost-ocolit/

Here are some comments and remarks about press reports

http://uzp.org.ro/proiectul-rosia-montana-submineaza-credibilitatea-presei/

http://voxpublica.realitatea.net/politica-societate/alerta-revendicarile-protestatarilor-depuse-la-guvern-trei-ministri-demisi-respingerea-legii-speciale-comisie-de-ancheta-parlamentara-interzicerea-cianurii-si-includerea-rosiei-montana-in-unesco-97426.html

Foreign press reports http://totb.ro/protestele-pentru-rosia-in-presa-straina/

What has civil society been doing these past years?

Alburnus Maior is the association of locals and owners from Roşia Montană established in September 2002 to organize planned steps to stop the mining project proposed by RMGC. Through its ongoing work, Alburnus Maior coordinates what is today the largest social and environmental campaign in Romania. In support of this, many organizations, institutions, artists, journalists, as well as members of civil society of all ages and from social status in Romania and abroad have joined together.
http://rosiamontana.org/

In addition to campaigns for public information, monitoring of authorities, protests and legal actions, the Fân Fest Festivals are being promoted annually to promote the values of the area http://www.fanfest.ro/

What began as a protest festival in 2004, FânFest has become a distinct cultural space in support of environmental and social rights and the sustainable development of Roşia Montană – thus becoming the emblem of social and environmental movements in Romania over the last decade.

Adopt a Roşia Montană House is a program to rescue the cultural heritage and the traditional community in Roşia Montană and the neighboring villages. The program is initiated by Alburnus Maior, the local association dedicated to protecting the rights of Roşia Montană community members in partnership with ARA – Architecture. Restoration. Archeology, an active association in the field of research, conservation and value of cultural heritage for the benefit of communities and society.
http://www.adoptaocasa.ro/

http://www.e-zeppelin.ro/Ctrl-S-Rosia-Montana-Arhitectura-prin-voluntariat

In 2013, Roşia Montana was included in Europe Nostra’s 7 Most Endangered program. The file that was the basis of the joint proposal of the signing organizations, assumed by Europa Nostra and the partner banks by including them on the 7 monuments list includes a structured action plan in 10 different directions to which concrete projects correspond. The plan aims to contribute effectively to preserving the cultural heritage of the site through research and documentation, through direct conservation and correct value assessment. The planned actions, together with the involvement of the local community, will generate a huge impact both on the professional fields and on the public at local, national and international level. The plan will help maintain and increase community revenue while protecting biodiversity and the value of internationally recognized habitats that have sustained the traditional community.

http://www.simpara.ro/rosia-montana-o-preocupare-europeana-553.html

http://www.europanostra.org/7-most-endangered/

What began street protests on September 1, 2013

POn 27 August 2013 the government approved the draft law related to measures regarding to the gold-silver mining exploitation in the Roşia Montană perimeter and the stimulation and facilitation of development of mining activities in Romania.

See the draft Here

Here you can read the opinion of the Ministry of Justice on this bill, which states that the project “contains just as many restrictions of citizens’ rights, restrictions for whose lawfulness is a justification compatible with the conditions provided by the fundamental law”

At least 20 points inlaw repeating the phrase “by exception / derogation from legal directives” make this project unconstitutional and particularly dangerous
The map of protests started on 1 September 2013

See here the claims of the protesters: LINK

Workshop and School on Țibănești work site

Workshop and School on Țibănești work site

Școala-atelier de meșteșuguri pe șantierul de la Țibănești

Since 2006 a cultural program called “Batem fierul la conac !” (“Hitting the iron at the manor”) was initiated at the Petre P. Carp Manor in Ţibăneşti, Iaşi County. The program includes a series of workshops for traditional crafts and experimental techniques and is coordinated by Asociația Maria in partnership with Pro Patrimonio Foundation. All activities grouped around the P.P. Carp Manor make up a school for crafts designed primarily for the villagers from Ţibăneşti, but also for all aware of the value of cultural heritage and the need to pass on it to their children. The historical complex of national importance Petre P. Carp from Ţibăneşti consists of a manor, a church, a mausoleum and the auxiliary building. The dendrological park was not returned and remains in the administration of local authorities. More about the complex and program here:

http://www.justitiecurata.ro/conacul-petre-p-carp-din-tibanesti-salvat-de-la-ruina-de-un-proiect-dedicat-mestesugurilor-si-patrimoniului/

The program addressed the students from the faculties of architecture, restoration, art, construction, archeology, photography, to local people, specialists, as well as those interested in the subject is an alternative to standard educational offers . The workshop is supported by the presence of the Mraz Fotopoetika School – lectures, projections and exhibitions, which poetically “maps” the activities and cultural landscape of Ţibăneşti.

“In the manor workshops we have learned not to seek universal prescriptions and formulas, but to consider each case independently, to see how important the context a material is used in is, the fact that it must be modeled properly while taking into account its properties, and allow our hands to imprint it and fill it with content, “says the organizer of the workshop, the Asociația Maria.

In September 2017, the association Carpenters Without Borders and a class of apprentice carpenters from Les Compagnons du Devoir and Tour de France in Rouen came to voluntarily restore the roofing of the Ţibăneşti ironwork shopthat had been under restoration for 10 years. The new roofing will allow us to create a new usable space. This will be an important aid for continuing the project in Ţibăneşti, in organizing courses and workshops dedicated to traditional crafts. The work process, starting with documenting how ash and oak log have been moved, studied and carved by craftsmen and apprentices, has been documented in an online workshop diary here:

https://tibanestiaocdtf.wixsite.com/mobilite2017

Details about the workshop and craft school at the P.P. Carp Manor from Ţibăneşti

The Gates of Brașov

The Gates of Brașov

60 Wooden Churches The Gates of Brașov projectcoordinated by architect Silvia Demeter-Lowe, wanted to save the gates in the historical center of Brașov, thus offering the owners a hand in repairing or refurbishing the gates and, at the same time, draw attention to the importance of preserving these elements of architectural heritage. The works were executed by craftsmen specialized in wood and metal conservation using traditional materials and techniques.

The project was initiated in 2009 when a citizen of Brasov requested the help of Pro Patrimonio Foundation because he wished that the hundred-year-old wooden gate of the court in which he lived could be rescued.

Works for restoration and giving value to the gate soon followed ( 16 Brâncoveanu Street, Brașov).

The next step was to identify other gates as potential candidates for restoration. They needed to meet criteria such as architectural and historical value, position within the city and, last but not least, the owners’ desire to get involved.

Details on Igloo magazine: https://www.igloo.ro/portile-brasovului -2/

 

MUSIC AND ARCHITECTURE

MUSIC AND ARCHITECTURE

Pro Patrimonio Foundation supported the 2013 advent band album FOLLOW – Lost end found. Music + architecture – because music and architecture, though different in their ways and means of expression, give voice to common values and interests. Architectural heritage trails should be protected and cherished with responsibility and consideration, and re-given to the community they are part of.

The album is accompanied by a book with documented historical monuments: Matache Hall (Bucharest), Macca House (Bucharest), Timişoara Citadel Synagogue, Mincu House in Bucharest (Romanian Architects Order), Casa cu Lei in Constanţa, Palatul Cantacuzino in Floresti (PH), Constanta Casino, Malaxa Pipe Factory in Bucharest and Suceava Water Plant.

More details here:

Mai multe aici: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBTWopXqyZk

Tablou activitati MUSIC AND ARCHITECTURE

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