Project description

Title: Rehabilitation of the historic city centre of Sibiu
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Romania
Lead executing agency: Sibiu City Council
Overall term: 2002 to 2009

Context

Established in 1143 and an economic and cultural centre in the region up to the present day, Sibiu is a candidate for selection as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city with its 16,000 residents is an enclosed, self-contained complex of buildings. The structural condition of the old buildings in the historic centre ranges from acutely vulnerable to well-preserved. The city’s cultural-historical importance is widely recognised internationally but has so far received little tangible support.

Objective

Historic buildings and public places in Sibiu’s old city threatened by decay are renovated and will be preserved in accordance with monument conservation criteria. The quality of living for residents is improved and the city’s cultural and economic potential can be used more effectively.

Approach

The project aims to expand and strengthen the existing competences and capacities for redeveloping the old city. GTZ advises municipal authorities on improving their administrative, legal, institutional and financial framework conditions and processes. A separate Old City Department has been established within the Sibiu City Council, and skilled construction workers, architects and structural engineers were trained to oversee the renovations.

Through participatory cooperation, the city’s residents are able to assist in the renovation process. As a result, self-help groups and action groups are mobilised. Both owners and tenants receive extensive information and advice on the renovation plans, including advice on favourable co-financing opportunities.

The city helped to establish the Fundatia pentru Reabilitare Urbana foundation that, as the lead agency for the renovations, will oversee the work of the old city consulting office beyond the end of the project. In the follow-up phase, the foundation will receive both technical and financial support from German development cooperation.

The project’s final phase focuses on three priority areas:

• Advisors and architects from the lead agency for the renovations are supported in continuing to give sound technical advice to the residents of the old city at no cost. The aim is to raise awareness and mobilise residents to participate actively in the process.
• Local craftsmen who have already received training are supported in deepening their knowledge and experience, specialising further in their fields and marketing their services. This is intended to ensure that the efforts made and successes achieved so far are sustainable.
• The lead agency for the renovations will be instructed on how to support the city in raising funds from external donors, in particular from EU promotion programmes. In addition, the new lead agency for the renovations will also take on a wide range of duties on behalf of the city, including planning, monitoring and public relations work.

Results achieved so far

The city council’s department for the renovation of the old city and important planning documents such as the Charter on Renovating the Historic Old City and the Municipal Action Programme 2001-2005 have improved management competences and the council’s capacity to handle the renovation of the old city, and simplified coordination with the private sector.

In the Municipal Action Programme, a modern planning instrument outlining all the important measures and projects of the city’s development was developed for a Romanian city for the first time. A monitoring system for the old city, HICOS, was created in close cooperation with various local committees and institutions.

The international symposium on revitalising historic old cities in eastern and south-eastern Europe in October 2002 promoted the exchange of strategies and concepts and heralded the beginning of cooperation between the municipalities.  A design handbook raises awareness among local authorities, institutions, renovation experts and citizens on the issues involved in renovating a city carefully.

The old city consulting office advises interested home owners and tenants at no cost on questions concerning inexpensive, innovative and participative renovations that comply with regulations for historic buildings, as well as legal procedures and opportunities for funding.

Numerous pilot projects have been carried out, including securing dangerous buildings, modernising flats and restoring and repairing building components. The demand for advisory services increased significantly following the introduction of a programme to secure vulnerable buildings and as a result of programmes for renovating facades and historic gates in line with regulations for historic buildings. Skilled craftsmen from various areas of expertise received on-the-job training at selected renovation sites.

The residents participate actively in the city development measures and in many different ways. With the support of KfW Entwicklungsbank, larger-scale renovations were carried out at private and public buildings and spaces from mid-2004 onwards. The rehabilitation measures were completed in mid-2007.

Downloads

• Tritt auf die Verkehrsbremse
  Article published in the GTZ "Akzente" magazine 01/2005
  de-akzente-rumaenien-01-2005.pdf, 0.23 MB (German language only)

Further information

• The project’s official website
  www.gtz.sibiu.ro
• Website of the city of Sibiu