urban cluj

Jun 30, 2009

Lebede uriaşe în Parcul Central

Swan-like recreational pedal boats on the Central Park lake.

Jun 29, 2009

Expoziţia absolvenţilor UAD

Pictures from the annual University of Art and Design graduation exhibition, held at Expo Transilvania this month.

Jun 28, 2009

Miracol pe strada Dragalina

Graffiti growing from the meeting of a yellow building and the green grass near cars at the stop, on Dragalina street. A young lady calmly notices this creation.

Jun 27, 2009

Architectural details of the "Lucian Blaga" National Theatre building showing two allegorical carriages drawn by lions. The theatre was built in the early 1900's in the eclectic (Neo-baroque and Secession) style by Austrian architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer.

Jun 26, 2009

Pista de karting la Polus Center

Karting racing tracks made from used tires in the Polus Center parking lot.

Jun 25, 2009

Terasă pe Dealul Cetăţuia

Terrace on the Cetatuia hill, overlooking the city in a sharp contrast between a calm green oasis and the muddled buildings downhill.

Jun 24, 2009

Geometrie şi reflecţie piramidală

Geometric architectural forms and a pyramid reflection in the Iulius Mall upper deck parking lot.

Jun 23, 2009

O plimbare pe Eroilor

Street scene on Eroilor Blvd. with 2 senior ladies, a mom with her girl child and a happy face on a window in the background.

Jun 22, 2009

Cărți audio în stil englezesc

Audiobooks cab in form of a British phone cabin in the English book section at Diverta Bookstore, Iulius Mall.

Jun 21, 2009

Ceas beton în Piața Mihai Viteazu

The concrete clock in the Mihai Viteazu Square on the top of the Complexul Leul block. Some houses of the Gruia neighborhood are seen on the hill in the background.

Jun 20, 2009

Căni cu Cluj-Napoca la Starbucks

Customized mugs with Cluj-Napoca behind some chess tables at Starbucks.

Jun 19, 2009

Clădirea din parc a Universității de Artă

Wooden installation in front of the University of Art and Design park building, in Central Park.

Jun 18, 2009

Mănăștur Vest Panoramic din parcarea Polus

The Manastur Vest Panoramic residential complex being constructed uphill, behind the Polus Center commercial mall.

Jun 17, 2009

Un pat la ghena de gunoi

A decayed bed used by homeless people in a garbage area near the Abator Square.

Jun 16, 2009

O privire de-a lungul străzii Iuliu Maniu

Iuliu Maniu street, one of the most quiet central alley, appears packed with cars and pedestrians, old buildings and signs. On the far left some architectural details and a ~~library~~ bookstore flag are visible, while on the background dominates the Greek Orthodox cathedral's dome.

Cluj is the third big city in Romania considering its population, with a general number of residents & commuters in its metro area of about 400,000.

It is largely known as the capital-city of the historical province of Transylvania - land of medieval citadels, wild crags, caves and forests, and the famous figure of Dracula.

Historically speaking Cluj was settled as a colony by the Romans (Colonia Aurelia Napoca) by the 2nd century CE, from where came the name of Napoca, and thereafter developed as fortress and city by the Hungarians, Saxons and Austrians - which conferred it the cultural, architectural, and urban influences of the multicultural Central Europe. Romanians, who constantly were the dominant rural population around the city, became the city rulers in 1918, when Transylvania became part of Romania, and developed it, especially within the Communist regime, after the 1947, by constructing large industries and working-class neighborhoods.

Along its history, Cluj acknowledged periods of progress and illuminism - sustained by a notable university and the medical and legal centers developed here already since the 16th century - together with warfare, nationalistic and religious troubles and stagnation - due to medieval invasions, far-right politics encouraging hostilities between Magyars and Romanians, and religious tensions between Greek-Catholics and Greek-Orthodoxs.

Today it is considered among the major hotbeds of development regarding the human capital in the region - due to its large number of university students, vibrant culture, safe social and economic environment, and perspectives for further development.