Not just a bookshop, more a new lifestyle concept, The Transylvanian city of Cluj will host the country’s biggest book space, it was announced Tuesday. The cultural space built on a communist-era industrial platform will feature books, stationery, a café and playgrounds, creative and educational workshops, art exhibitions and events to promote Romanian artists under one roof.
The project is the work of Cărtureşti bookshop chain and will be built in the RIVUS Cluj hub.
RIVUS is the largest industrial conversion and urban regeneration initiative in Romania, a press release said, and more than half a billion euros will be invested by IULIUS and Atterbury Europe.
The hub will be housed on the former Carbochim industrial platform, which has been relocated and refurbished.
The Cluj RIVUS project covers 2,500 sqm, built on two levels
“Through its mission of over two decades, Cărtureşti is a space that brings people together around the book and contributes to the formation of communities. The invitation to become the anchor brand of the RIVUS Cluj-Napoca project honors us and represents a recognition of the way we build and offer experiences to those who cross our threshold – whether creative, educational or dedicated to promoting reading,” said Adrian Paun, Head of Marketing Cărtureşti.
“For the readers in Cluj we prepare a rich selection of books in Romanian, Hungarian and English, special areas for hobbies, an extensive range of home décor products, spaces for events and other surprises dedicated to the public in the region”, Paun added.
The investment involves the transformation of the former industrial platform into an active and attractive urban hub with premium office spaces and the largest retail area in the country, in which over 400 stores, services, sports and medical facilities, restaurants. There will also be entertainment areas and an up-to-date multiplex cinema as well as a performing arts center and green spaces, with 700 mature trees and more than 100,000 decorative plants.
The concept of the RIVUS project, carried out by Dutch architects UNStudio, is in keeping with the aspirations of the local Cluj community.
