Nestled in the heart of Bucharest, the neighborhoods around the Tei and Plumbuita lakes are rich in history and character, each telling a unique tale of transformation. At the same time, their evolution has been limited both by the lack of a coherent long-term vision as well as by a multitude of administrative challenges that burden the whole city of Bucharest. On this backdrop, UrbanizeHub has developed an innovative participatory urban regeneration concept that invites creative people from all industries and backgrounds to submit ideas that can revitalize the neighborhoods that surround the Tei and Plumbuita lakes.
The area around Lacul Tei is a place where celebration, tragedy, and architectural elegance intertwine with the industrial grit of the past. The neighborhood’s journey began with the construction of Palatul Ghica Tei, which attracted the city’s elite and set the stage for the area’s development. During the interwar period, the neighborhood expanded rapidly, with elegant villas emerging against the tranquil backdrop of the park and lake. But the post-war communist era brought significant changes, as socialist apartment blocks rose alongside the older villas, leading to overpopulation and a change of the area’s picturesque character. Despite these challenges, Lacul Tei continues to evolve, blending its rich history with modern urban life. In recent years, the transformation of the Fabrica de Glucoză area into a residential neighborhood on the north side of the lake has opened new possibilities for reconnecting Lacul Tei with adjacent zones that had been fragmented over time.
Ghika Palace, aprox. 1822. Source: http://www.infobdb.ro/articole/5304
Nearby, Lacul Plumbuita lies between the neighborhoods of Plumbuita and Tei Toboc, offering a different yet equally compelling narrative. The area’s roots trace back to the Plumbuita Monastery, which spurred the development of informal homes and a vibrant local economy. The creation of Lacul Plumbuita in 1938 marked a turning point, physically dividing the once-unified community of Tei Toboc and Plumbuita South. The surrounding park, largely developed through community efforts, serves as an early example of public-private collaboration. During the socialist era, the neighborhood underwent planned developments that contrasted sharply with its informal roots. Yet Plumbuita has retained its unique identity, continuously adapting and transforming with the times.
Plumbuita Monastery, aprox. 1931. Source: https://imagoromaniae.ro/produs/manastirea-plumbuita-4/
In the first phase of the Cartier cu Caracter (meaning neighborhood with character) project, we laid the groundwork for future interventions by conducting a detailed analysis of the natural, cultural, social, legal, and economic profile of the area around the lakes. We mapped the available resources and identified the needs of the community, residents, and public and private stakeholders, while also evaluating the potential for integrated development and local collaborations. Additionally, we defined the parameters and success indicators that will guide future interventions to ensure a sustainable and efficient impact.
Photos taken during the socio-anthropological grounding phase. Source: UrbanizeHub Archive
These foundational actions have paved the way for innovation, and UrbanizeHub is leading the charge with the first public-private-community partnership (PPPC) in Bucharest. After months of research, analysis, surveys, and interviews, we are launching the next phase: a competition inviting young creatives to present their ideas for revitalizing these historic neighborhoods.
With prizes totaling over 8,000 euros, the Cartier Cu Caracter project aims to enhance the quality of life and attractiveness of the areas around the Tei and Plumbuita lakes. Guided by New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles, the project seeks to enable innovative interventions in public spaces, private properties, and community initiatives.
But what exactly is a public-private community partnership, and why is it so important?
In many urban developments, the people who actually live in the targeted neighborhoods are often left out of the decision-making process, and this model tends to generate major issues. Imagine decisions being made about your home without you having any say. Public-private community partnerships are designed to change that by fostering joint learning, collaborative project management, and, most importantly, community leadership in decision-making.
This approach marks a significant shift from the traditional top-down model to a more inclusive, bottom-up method of planning, ensuring that decisions reflect the real needs and desires of the community. The PPPC model leads to solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable.
The New European Bauhaus (NEB), launched by the European Commission in 2021, is an initiative aimed at creating sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful solutions for transforming our built environment and lifestyles. It prioritizes grassroots engagement, providing tools and guidance, and offering tailor-made solutions for different communities. NEB seeks to incorporate the views of various stakeholders into the design and implementation process, ensuring that people are at the heart of the transformation.
At UrbanizeHub, we see ourselves as pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in urban development. We recognize that there is often a perception that we are lagging behind as a country, which can make progress challenging. But this hasn’t stopped us – on the contrary, we’ve unexpectedly discovered that we’d been already working on the project described above for 10 months before the European Commission had even laid out standards for PPPC partnerships aligned with New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles. The New European Bauhaus Investment Guidelines, designed to help investors make informed decisions, only emerged after we had already set the stage. This proactive approach underscores commitment to innovation at Urbanizehub, as we firmly believe that innovation is the only way towards a sustainable urban future.
Because only together we can shape the future of cities!
