Location

Location in the city
Iancu de Hunedoara Blvd. is the starting point of the inner main half-ring road of the town that links the north of the city with the south.
The boulevard starts from Victoriei Square, a major point of the city. The Government buildings, The Natural History Museum, The Art and Traditional Crafts Museum, Office Buildings, Banks are all here.
“Cartea Romanesaca” Printing House is placed on Iancu de Hunedoara Boulevard, in the immediate vicinity of Victoriei Square, within 5 minutes walking distance.

Vicinities

The area is characterized by diversity.
A diversity of uses: residential, commercial, business, health and care, public and administrative, art and entertainment.
A diversity of building typologies coming from the layers of history: decorated villas, low-rise functionalist block of flat units, curtain wall office buildings.
In this urban fabric, the industrial building of the Printing House is unique, and adds to the overall richness of the area.

Accesses

The Area is well connected with the whole town, not only because is placed on a main access road, but also because has immediate access by means of public transportation.
- Victoriei Station tube station (main connection station for the 2 underground line)
- Bus and tram stations on Iancu de Hunedoara Blvd.
- Bus station on Dorobanti Street

Zoning Parameters

The "Metropolis Center" project is a modern multifunctional class "A" building-complex in Bucharest.

Following in accordance with the resolution of the historical study conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Cults / Romania, the main facade of the printing house will be further maintained consolidated and restored as such, in facing brick.

The structure in the back of the main facade will be completely replaced by new structure. The two-storey administrative building in the front of the workshop will be preserved as well. The construction lines will form a configuration of considerable depth which would require courtyards to ensure optimal access of natural light.

The driveways to the site are designed in accordance with the current zoning plan.

Architecture

The complex combines an office building, a boarding house and retail space. Based on our study of the location and the surroundings, the layout of the building will be as follows: retail space, located on the ground floor on boulevard "lancu de Hunedoara"; office space on the side facing the same boulevard and a residential part, facing the quiet street Grigore Alexandrescu.

The new part of the building, facing "Iancu de Hunedoara" features a simple and deliberately emphasized horizontal geometry, elegantly rising above the historical facade without dominating over it, and reflecting the dynamics of the boulevard. The interaction between the existing brick facade and the new horizontally pronounced glass facade, and their contrastive juxtaposition are meant to promote the value of the historical building as well as the contemporary character of the complex.

The residential wing at Grigore Alexandrescu Street corresponds to the open cut style of the surrounding buildings with its fragmented spirit which positions it naturally in the middle. The wing exposed to South appears to be optimal for the residential part.

The office and residential wings are separated by an atrium which provides additional light for the offices and the retail space on the ground floor.

The parking lots are located on one underground level and the entrance is on "Iancu de Hunedoara" street and the exit on "Grigore Alexandrescu" street.

Construction

The construction of the complex is flat plate concrete structure with antiseismic reinforced concrete walls and frames. The axes of the office area match the outlets of the existing historical wall and are multiples of 130 cm grids. The configuration of the bearing elements allows for free and flexible layout of open space as well as cell offices.

Infrastructure and communications

The vertical communications, the plumbing facilities, the technical rooms and the horizontal communications for the office area are located in the darkest spots of the building. This layout gives flexibility for separation of the floor into independent work units, optimization of the common areas and provides for optimal natural illumination of the offices.

In the residential wing, flats are of gallery type and the communications are located on the northern facade.

Technical building equipment

The heating, ventilation and electrical rooms are located in the underground levels. The ventilation system of the building is integrated into the suspension ceilings, above the horizontal communication duct and the double floor.

Electrical and telecommunication wiring are under a double floor (free outlets).

Design Team:

Peter Torniov, Stefan Petkov, Letitia Barbuica, Ivo Andreev, Milena Filcheva, Milena Terzieva, Angel Savlakov, Ivan Dragoshinski