Cultural insertion in Ovidiu Square, Constanta

Constanta is one of the settlements that resulted, in over two milleniums time, from overlapping and mutual completion of the main historical layers, which succeeded on the extra-carpathian teritory of Romania. The antique greek center was probably extended during the roman time, which itself perpetuated through the medieval horizon until the modern age in which the settlement aknowledged a dymanic development. The present premise of the Ovidiu Square was clearly defined by the facades of buildings with special architectural value, neoromanian style, Art Nouveau, modernism. Some of them still exist nowadays – The Archeology Museum, the mosque, the former building of the National Bank and of the Agricultural Bank, some apartment buildings and some monument-houses. The restoration of the square’s front is probably the main problem of the existing urban space. Regarding the subject of a historic center and the interventions that such a center can bear, a detailed analysis of all the factors that influence and are being influenced by the operation itself is the first step.

The insertion of a new building in the body of a historical site rises a series of architectural, urban and sociological issues. I considered necessary to add a new building in the antique square, a building that would sum up a series of functions that can revitalize the cultural and social life of the community, a bulding that would be related with the neighbor buildings – from an architectural and urban point of view – and would make a connection between the square and the cliff of the touristic harbour, while emphasizing the existing archeological remains.