YYY

The strong growth of the Romanian economy, pushed by the European accession, ignited a development race at the most historic, beautiful and remote sites of Romania. Facilitating potentialities that ‘might arise’ became the new gamble: houses, hotels and offices for people that never came. As result, the built floorspace increased substantially over the last 10 years. Vacancy became the new enemy. Vacancy in an excessive postmodern or fake vernacular costume. Let’s face it. Never were ‘here’ and ‘there’ as interrelated as nowadays. Communication devices and long distance transport opened up our world and keep  us connected. ‘Home’ is no longer a place anchored in strong local tradition, but a condition of global inter connectivity. Together with Building the Future and the municipality of Vama Buzaului YYY developed a staged development plan for Dalghias Valley that facilitates ‘change’ and ‘sophistication’ in stead of mass. We wanted to challenge the Romanian spatial planning with less footprint, and more respect. Valley21 and its buildings are designed in such a way that they connect the ‘here’ and the ‘there’, the contemporary with the rural, the international with the local. The buildings are characterized by the strong lines of the international style and a local presence in materials and reflections. Architecture and nature compete and synthesize at the same time, they become non hierarchical.

The project is embraced by the Romanian green building council.