Reactivation of the Abandoned Synagogue of Fabric

Since 2021, under the initiative of Patrick Bouchain and Elefthérios Kechagioglou, our multidisciplinary team has been exploring the intersections of architecture, urbanism, and circus arts within the framework of European capitals of culture, such as Eleusis 2021-2023 and Timisoara 2023. Comprising street artists, scenographers, architects, and urban planners, we engage in two-week workshops across various European cities to explore and question urban spaces through the medium of the body. Our work focuses on creating diverse narratives and fostering collective engagement by challenging norms and preconceived ideas. Key themes guiding our actions include urbanity, reversibility, and corporeity, aiming to bridge citizen initiatives with architectural and artistic practices while addressing the transformation dynamics in post-industrial and heritage-rich territories.

Heritage is often perceived through a traditional vision, which may lead to a limited scope of action. Seeking innovation, we reject its essentialization and aspire to grasp it through an intersectional lens, leveraging its impact within its social and built environments. This approach emphasizes inhabitants' roles and new values for old buildings, particularly their use values. It intersects urbanistic, architectural, and sociocultural fields. Our intervention in Timisoara’s Fabric synagogue exemplifies this through the (re)activation of neglected sites, focusing on reversible architectural interventions and a participative approach. Rehabilitation through use : Built in 1899 by Lipot Baumhorn, the Fabric synagogue is one of the few remaining neologist synagogues, featuring a neo-gothic facade enclosing an industrial metal-wood structure. Located in Timisoara's former industrial and multiethnic neighborhood, our intervention aims to restore its past significance. The process started with understanding the synagogue’s environment, recognizing it as an ecosystem landmark with cultural and social capital potential. To involve inhabitants in the process, and given the synagogue’s fragile state, the adjoining house of prayer hosted gatherings with local communities to develop an open programmation. This involved : • Protection: Halting degradation • Dialogue: Discuss potential uses • Promotion: Encouraging public engagement We began with analyzing the building’s state, identifying disorders and heritage hooks. We then implemented reversible architectural interventions, like wooden shorings, to enhance architectural values and preserve the building. These interventions explored the building’s potential long-term uses, from mediation and signage to public sitting, prioritizing public opening over full rehabilitation. We also conducted community-driven repairs and artistic installations through participative worksites that involved local residents. Open programmation : Authentically addressing site needs involved collaboration with the municipality and local stakeholders. Open programmation adopted a bottom-up approach, integrating community and entrepreneurial input. Supporting pop-up events enriched the synagogue complex, emphasizing contextualization, participation, and heritage understanding. This inclusive vision identified local needs and guided necessary interventions, encouraging future projects by municipalities and associations.