Transfer Brezoianu (TUB)
Team: Alex Axinte, Cristi Borcan (studioBASAR), project developed within TUB project.
Location: Brezoianu street, Bucharest.
Year: 2008-2009
The route of Brezoianu Street connects the North and the South between two urban nods, Splaiul Dâmboviţei (the banks of the river) and Sala Palatului (The multipurpose Palace Hall). Crossed in the middle by Elisabeta Boulevard, where it runs parallel with Cişmigiu Park, the street looks like a small scale alternative of Calea Victoriei. Based on “Monderman Model” as a reference (the Share Spaces concept developed by the Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman), Brezoianu turns into a generous space for passers-by, bike riders and various daily things, open to the occasional traffic and built as a dynamic transfer between Dâmboviţa and Sala Palatului. A set of material interventions and technical adjustments would not contradict the trends or separate the conflicts, but rather commit their upcoming energy. The strategy of “a city of small things” aims to regenerate the use of the most common urban utilities such as crossings, metal dwarfs, square fencings etc. as a direct and natural way to find a sequential character of a street. We leave open the informal and the social life, and encourage the spontaneous flow of life on the street.
Transfer. 10
Punctual successive interventions along Brezoianu Street.
1. Tourist tram: We suggest the introduction of a tourist tram along Lipscani Street, to connect Sfantul Gheorge Square and Splaiul Dâmboviţei in one route and a few stops.
2. Marshalling Yard: the touristic tram reaches the terminus point towards the Dambovita river into a distribution point together with other public transportation, pedestrian crossings, above and underground parking. The marshalling yard activates the area as a intensive meeting place, night lights, served by a commercial perimeter, public programs, cultural spaces, having a 12+12 hours vocation.
3. Flee Market: introducing into the urban tissue of the temporary weekend commerce, held in light metal, wood and canvas easy to assembly; the commercial tents are rented by the city and returned by the closure; the alimentation and seasonal products are the main merchandise.
4. XXL Crossing: We mark the crossing of Elisabeta Boulevard in a huge red-and-white pedestrian marking for pedestrians and bike riders.
5. The Garden: opening the gates of the interior courts behind the buildings, having a continuous floor with the sidewalks, designing hidden places with different atmospheres.
6. Playmatt: We pull down the fence and expand the square with natural pavement. We install a perimeter bench, get water, add sand and accept pets.
7. Green Line: protection of the lower level by a green courtain of fraxinus excelsior that acts as a community planted space, a linear bench of social interaction.
8. Fountain: designing a fountain with the ApaNova company in front of their headquarters; and the continuations of the row of trees up to the Tower block.
9. The Ring: reactivating an asphalt and grass field by installing an open air stage - light structure of metal, wood and tent, as an intensive spot, dynamic and seasonal that can sustain musical concerts, dance, food courts or public esplanade.
10. Gradient: we introduce color to the Sala Palatului - rainbow on columns; we highlight the experience of linear commercial space into the portico, colored day and night by painting or by lighting the columns.
