The Garden of University House, Bucharest

The Romanian Order of Architects (OAR) and the Contracting Authority – the University of Bucharest, are glad to announce the official launch of ”The Garden of University House, Bucharest” International Design Competition. 

The purpose of this design competition is to select the best design for the refunctionalization and activation of the existing auxiliary buildings in the courtyard of the University House, the enhancement and refunctionalization of the old greenhouses and the restoration of the garden of the University House in Bucharest, in accordance with the contemporary needs of use, in order to award the design contract. 

The University House and its garden represent an ensemble of remarkable urban, architectural, and landscape value, located in a central area of Bucharest, with exceptional potential. However, the current state of the site reflects a series of major issues that affect its functionality, accessibility and integration into the life of the city. All these dysfunctions affect the character of this site. In this context, the ensemble faces significant risks regarding the conservation of heritage, in a period when, generally, the pressures of urban development can permanently compromise important historical landmarks. The lack of coherent and qualitative interventions threatens not only the physical integrity of the site, but also its potential to be reactivated as a cultural, social, and educational space for the city. 

However, the current situation offers a rare opportunity: to completely rethink this space with the help of an integrated project, which responds to both the needs and requirements of heritage protection and those of sustainable development of the contemporary city. In this sense, the design competition becomes an essential tool for a coherent, quality intervention, which enhances the site and restores its urban and cultural relevance. 

The brief invites competitors to find solutions that transform the garden of the University House and the annexed buildings into a multifunctional space for cultural and educational activities, through a holistic approach that targets the entire garden, relations with the neighborhoods, and the refunctionalization of the annexed buildings on the site. Through this initiative, the garden of University House can become a model of responsible urban regeneration, in which the architectural intervention serves both the heritage and the community, contributing to the quality of life and the sustainable development of the neighborhood.

The Contracting Authority of the competition is the University of Bucharest, the beneficiary of the project which will be contracted following the competition. 

The competition is organized by the Romanian Order of Architects (OAR), in accordance with the OAR Good Practices Guide for Design Competitions (edited in Romanian – Ghidul de bune practici în organizarea concursurilor de soluții OAR, 2018, rev. 2025), in compliance with the provisions of the legislation in force regarding the award of public procurement contracts. The Design Competition is a public, single-stage competition, open to Romania, all countries of the European Union, of the European Economic Area, and to the Swiss Confederation. The design competition is organized as an independent procedure, in accordance with art. 105 letter a) of Law no. 98/2016 regarding public procurement, and subsequently, pursuant to provisions under art. 104 para. (7) of the same law, the design services contract is to be awarded to the winner of the competition, following a negotiation procedure without prior publication of a participation announcement.

COMPETITION JURY 

Full Members 

- landscape arch. Imke van Hellemondt 

- arch. Francesca Torzo 

- landscape arch. Giuseppe La Mastra

- arch. urb. Toader Popescu 

- arch. Kazmer Kovacs 

- rector Marian Preda – Representative of AC 

- arch. Sorin Istudor 

Deputy Members

- arch. Ștefania Tîrcă 

- arch. Bogdan Guiu 

- vice-rector Răzvan Papuc - Representative of AC

AWARDED PRIZES 

1st Place - Prize in the estimated value of the design services contract of 516,031 EUR without VAT (2,607,092 RON without VAT) 

2nd Place - Prize in the amount of 12.000 EUR without VAT (60,626 RON without VAT) 

3rd Place - Prize in the amount of 8.000 EUR without VAT (40,417 RON without VAT)

4th Place - Prize in the amount of 4.000 EUR without VAT (20,208 RON without VAT) – 1st mention 

5th Place - Prize in the amount of 4.000 EUR without VAT (20,208 RON without VAT) – 2nd mention

COMPETITION SCHEDULE 

Competition official launch: The official launch in SEAP 

Site visit registrations: May 14th (Thursday)

Site visit: May 16th (Saturday) 

Deadline for receiving questions Round 1: May 18th, H 12:00 (Monday) 

Deadline for answering questions Round 1: May 27th (Wednesday) 

Deadline for receiving questions Round 2: June 29th, H 12:00 (Monday) 

Deadline for answering questions Round 2: July 7th (Tuesday) 

Deadline for project submission: July 17th, H 16:00 (Friday) 

Formal evaluation of the projects (Technical Committee verification): July 20th - 23rd (Monday –Thursday) 

Jury assessment of the projects: July 24th – 27th (Friday – Monday) 

Winner official announcement and publishing of the results (press conference with the Jury): July 28th (Tuesday) 

Publishing the entries’ gallery on the Competition’s official website: July 28th – August 5th

Deadline for submitting appeals: 10 days from the publication of the results in SEAP 

Prize payment: 30 calendar days from the winners’ submission of documents in this respect at the registry of the Contracting Authority, but no later than 60 calendar days after the deadline for submitting appeals of after the resolution of appeals (if applicable) 

Initiation of the negotiation procedure and contracting of the winner (sending the invitation to negotiations): 45 calendar days from the winners’ submission of documents in this respect at the registry of the Contracting Authority, but no later than 75 calendar days after the deadline for submitting appeals of after the resolution of appeals (if applicable) 

Estimated - Contract design services: 60 months

EN: https://oar.archi/en/concursur... 

RO: https://oar.archi/concursuri/o... 

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