Shifts. A brief history of public plazas in central Bucharestequal architectural expression, that did not manage to dominate or even inter-
relate with the emptied central space. Its dimensions and lack of function made
it easily written off as park, but, once more, pedestrian accessibility to it was
scarce.
Fourth Period, 1990-2014The fourth period still stands trial to the oscillation between reviving identity
and catching up on the missed years. Even though the shifts in political and
cultural context are ideologically significant, the breaking of the status-quo, as
far as public spaces are concerned, seems inhibited by a reluctant resistance.
The openness in information that the democratic regime brought along did
not change old habits: re-establishing a contemporary role for public space is
nevertheless under the thumb of politically driven administrative decisions.
Reclaiming public space for Bucharest has proved to be the major struggle of
the past 25 years, not only for the administration, but also for the public itself.
Minimal comfort and accessibility provided for pedestrians, disconnecting
public space from functions, cutting off its relationship with adjacent ground
floors, were habits deeply rooted in the collective mentality of Bucharest’s
inhabitants, strategically deprived of using public space and buildings. And as
with limited use comes little to no responsibility, public spaces are yet to be re-
metabolized, and appropriated.
Public spaces are places of continuous and present significance, and the only
central public plaza to have generated and maintained a new, active identity
for itself is currently University Square. University Square shifted into political
significance in 1990^9 , as it was the central public space with no administrative
or political quarters, and benefiting from the highest visibility. It became the
space for free speeches, protests, and spontaneous manifestos, the place
belonging to and expressing public opinion. Its significance did not falter even
after a disastrous intervention in 2011, when the whole area of the Square
was levelled and paved into a uniform but dysfunctional pedestrian area,
cut by access lanes to an underground parking. Although subjected to an
international design competition, the administration decided to take matters
to own hands and disregard professional opinions. Public generated, active
signification expanded and stretched outside the physical boundaries of the
original University Square, making up for its “lost” space. It now encompasses
the Theatre Square, the fountain behind the University itself, as well as the
crossroad. Several public spaces, of different physical features, were thus
unified under one common, strong identity.
At the opposite end lies Unirii Square, unsaved yet from its martyrdom^10.
Victoriei and Romana are still transit squares, while Revolution Square, former
Palace and Republic’s, received a new name, but its identity fails in being
supported by a present significance or physical improvement.