History and Archeology Museum of Constanța - The New Gallery

Iulia Ghițescu is a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at UAUIM. Her passion for architecture is closely tied to the places and buildings of her hometown, Constanța. This project holds personal significance for her, as she aims to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the historic city center.

The purpose of the New Gallery is to reactivate the western slope of the Peninsula and to increase the interest in history and archaeology, thereby enhancing the cultural vitality of Constanța. The project expands the museum network in the city center and completes the pedestrian route. The ensemble consists of three pavilions: two developed along the cliff to consolidate the eroding slope and blend into the natural landscape, and a third volume extending from the ruins of the Roman Therme, which it protects and showcases. The Mosaic Pavilion, located next to the Roman Mosaic Edifice, houses the permanent treasury exhibition; the Ovidiu Pavilion includes halls for temporary exhibitions, a conference room, and workshops for visitors; and the Therme Pavilion contains the permanent exhibition dedicated to the Roman Therme and the objects discovered during construction. The materiality of the project—apparent pigmented concrete, metal, and glass—reflects the materials and colors found in neighboring buildings, such as the Roman Mosaic Edifice. These elements create a poetics of materiality, being juxtaposed, tectonic, and transparent. The pavilions are connected to the outside through buffer spaces, liminal spaces, porticos, patios, or urban pockets that facilitate the transition from indoor to outdoor space. The choice of this theme is motivated by the desire to sincronise Constanța's museums with international standards and to leverage the city's cultural and touristic potential