REACTOR | Living Laboratory for Circular Transition
Awarded the 1st Mention among 32 international competition entries, “REACTOR / RULMENTUL: Living Laboratory for Circular Transition” proposes the transformation of the former Rulmentul industrial platform in Brașov into a resilient, regenerative, and future-oriented urban ecosystem.
The project reimagines one of Romania’s largest post-industrial territories through the lens of circular urban transition, where ecology, public life, housing, productive landscapes, mobility, and innovation coexist within an integrated environmental framework. Rather than erasing the industrial identity of the site, the proposal builds upon its historical memory and existing infrastructural traces, transforming them into catalysts for ecological restoration, social interaction, and sustainable urban development.
Conceived as a “Living Laboratory,” the masterplan establishes an adaptive urban structure capable of evolving over time in response to environmental, social, and economic challenges. The proposal is structured around principles of circularity and regeneration, integrating green infrastructure, restored wetlands, mixed-use neighborhoods, public spaces, and ecological mobility networks into a cohesive spatial system that reconnects the site with the surrounding landscape and urban fabric.
Landscape acts as the primary urban infrastructure of the project. A continuous ecological corridor traverses the site, restoring fragmented natural systems while supporting biodiversity, climate resilience, water management, and public accessibility. Parks, productive landscapes, urban forests, and community-oriented open spaces create a new relationship between nature and urban living, encouraging collective interaction, recreation, and environmental awareness.
The proposal prioritizes walkability, soft mobility, and human-scaled urban development through interconnected mixed-use clusters that combine housing, workspaces, education, recreation, and cultural programs. Flexible spatial strategies and phased development allow the district to adapt over time while fostering inclusivity, resilience, and long-term sustainability.
By integrating nature-based solutions, water-sensitive design, and regenerative urban principles, the project establishes a forward-looking model for post-industrial transformation in Romania. “REACTOR / RULMENTUL” explores how former industrial territories can evolve into dynamic urban ecologies where environmental performance, social life, and cultural continuity operate together within a resilient and adaptive framework.
Team
NEW ENVIRONMENTS — Giacomo Gallo, Robert Younger
ATELIER MASS — Silviu Aldea, Camelia Sisak, Tamás Sisak
