DIICOT | Urban Conversion

33 Sfânta Vineri St., Bucharest, District 3

Completed 2022

Located in the center of Bucharest, the project represents a complex intervention of reconverting a residential structure into a large-scale administrative space. The main challenge was to redefine a tall volumetry (2B+GF+M+12F), originally designed for housing, into a sober and coherent aesthetic, specific to a contemporary office building. The architectural solution was found by applying a metal envelope that unifies the facade and recontextualizes the pre-existing elements, without compromising the functionality of the interior spaces.

The distinctive element of the building is the use of Corten steel – a premiere at this scale in the Romanian architectural landscape. The southern facade is clad in a succession of perforated panels, an organic lacework that mediates the relationship between the interior and the exterior. During the day, this tactile envelope acts as a protective filter against strong light, generating a musical play of shadows and light in the offices that enhances visual comfort. At night, the building's identity transforms through longitudinal architectural lighting, which highlights the depth of the fretwork and turns the structure into a nocturnal visual landmark.

The rigor of the exterior is transposed into the building's lobby through a selection of honest and durable materials. The floor and walls clad in black slate enter into a chromatic dialogue with the oxidized shades of the Corten, while the stabilized moss inserts bring an organic touch, balancing the hardness of the stone and metal. The final result is a representative space that exudes stability and clarity, demonstrating how a difficult structure can be recovered and transformed into an architectural object with a strong identity of its own.

Technical Details

Typology

Office Building (Functional conversion)

Height Regime

2B+GF+Mezzanine+12 Floors

Key Materials

Corten Steel, Slate, Longitudinal architectural lighting

Services

Architectural design, Interior design, Technical assistance for execution