Mamaia Seaside, Constanța

The contest – organised on behalf of the National Administration of Romanian Waters – seeks an ‘integrated plan for the sustainable development of the beaches’ located in the northern part of the city bordering the Mamaia resort, the Black Sea and Năvodari beach.

The call for concepts focusses on a strip of land which was the focus of coastal erosion but has been the focus of a sand replenishment programme in recent years. The project aims to boost tourism while also promoting biodiversity and sustainability within the port settlement located in the Northern Dobruja region of Romania on the Black Sea coast.

According to the brief: ‘The beach is part of the natural strip that separates Lake Siutghiol from the Black Sea, a predominantly flat coastal area with fine sand and a relatively mild marine climate.

‘The aim of the competition is to select the best solution for the planning and development of the beach area in accordance with the nature and specific landscape of the Black Sea coast, a solution capable of integrating the elements of the built space, its specific activities and the necessary facilities open to the accessibility of all categories of users, and last but not least, takes into account the principles of biodiversity and sustainability.

‘This competition encourages creativity while supporting urban, landscape, and architectural research toward an integrated concept for the redesign of the current beach area.’

Thought to be the oldest city in Romania, Constanța is a historic port town on the Black Sea coast with a population of around 667,860 residents. Key local landmarks include the Genoese Lighthouse, Constanța Casino, the Grand Mosque of Constanța and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

Arhitectură, Construcții, Design won a contest last year for a new urban park planned as the centrepiece of Constanța’s ‘DN3C’ urban extension project which will transform a series of light industrial and agricultural areas on the north east fringes of the city into a new residential zone.

The latest project focusses on a 6.5km stretch of beach that once hosted a Romanian royal family palace and witnessed rapid redevelopment in the post war era to become a major centre of summer tourism.

Key current challenges facing the area – which suffers from not having an integrated long-term design and management plan – include sand levels that are too high and a lack of changing rooms, toilets and showers.

Judges for the contest will include the architect and urbanist Irina Criveanu, the landscape architect Ana Horhat and Razvan Radu representing the contracting authority.

The overall winner – to be announced 19 September – will receive a €1.5 million design contract while a second prize of €37,500, third prize of €17,500 and three honourable mentions each worth €5,000 will also be awarded.