Zsimboja Farm

Cristian Moțiu is 32 years old and is an architect. Born in Arad, he chose to practice in Timișoara, the city where he studied architecture. Currently, he combines the profession of architect with that of musician. He is studying the trumpet and is part of the local philharmonic choir. He designs contemporary architecture, but he is also passionate about old architecture, restoration being a recurring practice in his professional activity. Among his passions, other than those from which he made a profession, are graphic design and the exploration of the history of his native region.

The Zsimboja farm has its origins in the first half of the 19th century. In 1876, under the administration of the noble family from Şiria, it was rehabilitated and received the name Puszta Zsimboja, a name taken from a former lake that collected water from the slopes of the hills in the area, but which it was drained at the beginning of the 19th century. During the communist period, this was a location for the State Agricultural Enterprise (IAS) to function here. The building that is the subject of this project housed offices, a canteen with a kitchen and other outbuildings. The recently completed project aimed to save a small part of the local history and to enhance this building`s own value. The original part of the building, whose value is considerable, has been restored. Another part, formed by additions at different stages (kitchen and outbuildings), without any value, was restyled and modernized in a unified, contemporary manner. This remodeled part of the building is meant to compliment the original architecture through a minimalist design, but which also offers presence through the amplitude of the spaces. Between the two sections of the building, i.e. between the old and the new, a glass case was designed, as a discrete element to separate and hierarchize the two stages of the building. Being somewhere in the middle of the fields, in an area exposed to extreme weather conditions and to the summer heat, the spaces had small and few windows. In this sense, a northern facade of the new part of the building was completely glazed, thus illuminating the most used living space, but at the same time protecting it from direct sunlight or other weather conditions. The landscapes of fields, mountain and vine-filled hills from the S-E are scenic and spectacular. While the contemporary addition benefits from these views through the windows located on the southern facade, the old part of the building benefits from a large and elegant terrace with access from the lounge and office.