Imagine a significant central square, flanked by historical buildings, once the ground zero for pivotal moments in Romania’s history – now tragically reduced to a parking lot and overlooked by its citizens and marked by the authorities’ indecision. This is the reality of Piața Revoluției (Revolution Square) in the heart of Bucharest. But a local civic initiative, Grădina Revoluției (The Garden of Revolution), led by Romanian NGO Străzi pentru Oameni (Streets for People), is cultivating a different future – one where people, not cars, take center stage.
Revolution Square, nestled alongside the bustling Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue, main commercial boulevard of the capital), holds immense historical and cultural weight for Romania, dating back to the period of monarchy (1881-1947). It has witnessed crucial events during the 1989 Romanian Revolution, when the dictator, Nicolae Ceaușescu, fled the Communist Party headquarters by helicopter, while enormous crowds were asking, for the first time in 45 years, for liberty and democracy.
Despite its significance and prime location, the square has devolved into a largely underutilized space, dominated by formal and informal parking, primarily serving the nearby ministries. This has transformed the square into a forgotten, uninviting area, and merely a place people are passing through rather than stopping at to contemplate. The lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and inviting green space reflects broader urban challenges within Bucharest, a city often prioritizing traffic over people.
However, this underutilization presents a significant opportunity: to reimagine and revitalize this central location as a thriving urban oasis. Străzi pentru Oameni envisioned the transformation of the concrete expanse into a green heart for Bucharest, a place where history meets the present and offering respite from the city’s hustle. Their ambitious goal is to give back to the residents and tourists a place for leisurely strolls, free from the noise and pollution of constant traffic.
Bucharest is facing significant challenges in terms of modern urban development. Corina Kaiser, Grădina Revoluției project coordinator, emphasizes this duality: “In some ways, Bucharest has evolved immensely in the last 20 years. I have spent manyyears in cities like London, New York, LA and Tokyo, but 2 years ago I chose to move back to Bucharest and I don’t feel that there is a large economic gap between these cities. But, if we look at the quality of public spaces, the degree of walkability, the amount of green spaces, Bucharest and its residents suffer. This has social, economic and civic implications. This is why I decided to get involved, support this grass roots work and bring together all stakeholders.”
Placemaking in Action: Describing the Process
The core goal of Grădina Revoluției initiative is to reclaim Piața Revoluției for the people of Bucharest, transforming a neglected parking area into an accessible space for relaxing and social interaction. The initial focus was on a specific area within the square – the approximately 15 parking spots near the Memorial of Rebirth. However, the long-term vision encompasses the regeneration of the entire square (approximately 5500 sqm).
Community involvement has been central to the project from its inception. In order to understand the community needs and desires, the NGO undertook an extensive public consultation process. This involved organizing ten meetings between June and October 2024, engaging 71 people from various stakeholder groups: skaters (frequent users of the square), senior citizens, children, teenagers, residents of the area, employees of nearby institutions, people with disabilities, 1989 Revolution veterans or their relatives, architecture / urbanism students and professors, and tour guides. Furthermore, they launched an online form to gather broader public input and ideas for the square’s design and features. In all – more than 100 volunteers helped make the public consultations possible.
To facilitate these consultations, Străzi pentru Oameni chose to implement The Place Game (possibly for the first time in Romania), methodology developed by Project for Public Spaces (PPS). Designed to evaluate the quality of public spaces and identify opportunities for improvement based on community contributions, the game involved a structured exploration of the square, where participants evaluated its current state from aesthetic and functional perspectives, considering aspects like crowding, cleanliness, and the presence of other people. The second part involved open-ended questions prompting participants to articulate what they liked or disliked about the space, suggest short-, medium-, and long-term interventions, and even interview passers-by to gather their opinions. Participants were also encouraged to identify potential partners who could contribute to revitalizing the space.
“When the question arose about consultation methods for Bucharest, I immediately remembered this methodology from my experience in Portugal with the Regreeneration project,” says Tudor Chira, a project volunteer. “It was a success – people didn’t want to leave, staying for three hours even though the format is designed to be completed in about one hour.”
The key takeaways from this extensive consultation process were clear: more green space, shade, benches, accessible water fountains, improved cleanliness, and a stronger recognition of the area’s rich history. Skaters expressed a need for dedicated urban furniture, while children wished for a playground. Interestingly, most participants did not advocate for the removal of the controversial Memorial of Rebirth but rather for a respectful integration of the monument within a more appealing and historically informative environment.
A considerable effort was made to process the data collected from these focus groups, culminating in the creation of a detailed report of 60 pages. This report synthesizes the conclusions and recommendations resulting from the public consultations. The report contains concrete recommendations for the local authorities for the urban regeneration of Piața Revoluției and proposes the creation of an interdisciplinary and interinstitutional working group to coordinate the transformation efforts of this important space in Bucharest. Străzi pentru Oameni presented this report to the local authorities in April and will publicly launch it in May 21st.
Lessons Learned: Insights for Future Placemaking
Grădina Revoluției has yielded valuable lessons for other placemaking initiatives, particularly those focused on reclaiming historically significant urban spaces.
What Worked Well:
- Strong community enthusiasm and willingness to contribute
- The Place Game proving effective for gathering diverse perspectives
- Initial funding through the “În Zona Ta” grants program
- A dedicated volunteer team establishing productive dialogue with authorities
Challenges Faced:
- The complexity of transforming even a small pilot area given bureaucratic hurdles
- Navigating resistance to change from governmental bodies
- Addressing the square’s poor image to encourage public use
- Balancing diverse community desires, particularly regarding contentious monuments
Impact on the Community:
- Raised awareness about the potential of underutilized public spaces
- Empowered citizens to participate in shaping their city
- Fostered a shared vision for a more livable, greener Bucharest
Tips for Similar Initiatives:
- Start with a well-defined, manageable pilot within a larger vision
- Prioritize community engagement from the beginning
- Cultivate strong partnerships with authorities, NGOs, urban experts, and businesses
- Maintain transparent communication with all stakeholders
- Document the process thoroughly to inform future steps
- Be prepared for bureaucratic hurdles and develop effective advocacy strategies
- Celebrate small victories to sustain momentum
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
Grădina Revoluției represents the beginning of a longer journey. Immediate actions include advocating for short-term improvements like enhanced cleanliness (with visible results already), and temporary green spaces potentially including elements for skaters.
Long-term plans include facilitating an international urbanism competition to generate innovative solutions for the entire square. The outcome would inform a dedicated zoning plan for Piața Revoluției to be integrated into Bucharest’s General Urban Plan. The ultimate vision includes expanded green spaces, pedestrian priority, and potentially seeking UNESCO World Heritage status.
The organization also continues advocating for the permanent pedestrianization of Calea Victoriei, viewing Grădina Revoluției as a crucial step toward a more walkable city center.
How can others get involved and learn from this experience? Get in touch!
Find Străzi pentru Oameni on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and their website.
Find the full Report here: https://strazipentruoameni.net/s/GR_Report_EN_compressed.pdf
