Cultural Landscapes in Bucharest: Analyzing the Intersection between Historic Preservation and Informal Housing
Abstract:
<p>In recent years, many of Bucharest’s residential properties registered as historic landmarks were vacated for consolidation against seismic risk or rehabilitation for historic preservation. Preserving architectural heritage in Romania is complicated by the ongoing process of returning nationalized properties to private owners, with the ownership of some properties in legal limbo. This preliminary study extends previous research about the practice of squatting historic landmarks and the official discourse around informal occupants and their housing arrangements. In August 2023, properties that were part of the initial research were revisited. Families living in these properties had been displaced for the official reason of structural rehabilitation and historic preservation. However, field observations from August 2023 suggest that renovation did not follow eviction for many of these cases. Rather, many of these rehabilitation and consolidation plans were stalled. This study further explores the intersection of informal housing and the preservation of cultural landscapes.</p><p>Dennis Dingemans Special Session</p>