Interview Arch. Marius Călin and Arch. Urb. Simona Văleanu. How does urban regeneration change the face of big cities? 

"Urban regeneration is a trend that has been developing for many years in major cities around the world. Urban areas that were heavily industrialised years ago are now being replaced by major real estate projects designed to give the city back to its residents.

Replacing old factories with shops, office buildings and residential complexes is the process that almost all the major industrial platforms in Bucharest have gone through. The most famous examples are AFI Cotroceni and AFI Park, which took the place of the former UMEB factory, the Campus 6 and The Light projects, which stand on the site of the former Pumac platform, The Bridge and Orhideea Towers, on the site of the former Spicul bread factory, Rose Garden on Suveica (Obor area), Vivenda which took the place of the Titan bread factory, One Cotroceni Park on the site of the former Ventilator platform, One Floreasca City at Automatica, Doamna Ghica Plaza in place of Romfelt or Timișoara 58 over Frigocom in Militari.

In fact, former factories continue to be the main source of land for new real estate developments in Bucharest. At this moment alone, projects are in various stages of development on the former Romcarton, Romprim, Artemob, Laromet, Marmura, Electrotehnica, Timpuri Noi, Automatica, Pipera furniture factory, Stiteh, Pumac, Semănătoarea, Ventilatorul, Băneasa and Spicul bread factories, Medeus sausage factory and Grivița brewery.

One United Properties, Profit News TV and Profit.ro launch the Bucharest 2028 campaign to raise awareness of the impact of responsible urban development on the city. Pollution standards and environmental issues have pushed industrial production out of urban areas, leaving behind abandoned and inappropriately used spaces.

Urban regeneration focuses in particular on rehabilitating land in densely populated urban areas and upgrading them to serve the city's residents. Most prestigious developers have a portfolio of real estate developments in areas that were previously abandoned and forgotten, with a significant negative impact on the city. The government approved late last year the legal framework that allows urban regeneration projects to be financed by non-reimbursable external funds. The budget earmarked for urban regeneration through regional programmes for the period 2021-2027 is around €500 million and the adopted legal framework allows local authorities to develop projects that ensure better living conditions, functional and modern urban spaces, urban mobility, while ensuring the enhancement and protection of heritage features. Urban regeneration projects will be able to include central and historic areas, but also housing estates, sites with disused infrastructure, recreational and commercial areas."

Read more: https://www.profit.ro/povestile-bursei/cum-schimba-regenerarea-urbana-fata-marilor-orase-21412435