Urban Restoration

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For MET Guided Tours to sites of special interest see: About the Area 
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The Mihai Eminescu Trust has been active in Romania since 1987, and since 1999 has been implementing its Whole Village Project, assisting the conservation of churches, historic villages, and the regeneration of the traditional rural communities within them. It has also recently commissioned a full feasibility study into the repair and reopening of the Sibiu - Agnita narrow guage railway. In June 2000 the Trust was asked to restore important urban facades in the town of Cisnadie, near Sibiu, the capital of Transylvania. The restoration, carried out by a team of trainees from Viscri, attracted such attention that the Trust was also invited to restore four facades in Sibiu, in cooperation with a Federal German Government agency and Sibiu Town Hall, and a façade in the main square of the historic fortified city of Sighisoara (a Unesco World Heritage Site). The Trust received international awards for this work. Our conservation philosophy is to preserve old buildings changing as little as possible, and always retaining as many of the original interior and exterior features and fittings as we can. If we have to replace handles, hinges, locks, window frames, shutters and stucco work - we use local craftsmen and materials. Conservation/Restoration Training In 2001 we started conservation training in Transylvania.  We trained seven men - our A team- both in the Saxon villages and in the towns of  Sibiu and Sighisoara. In October 2002 a German organization (GTZ) awarded us first, second and third prizes for our restoration work in Sibiu.  The restoration of the facade of the House on the Rock in Sighisoara, completed by us at the end of the summer 20o1,  is also much admired. In 2003 and 2004 British conservation trainers taught a second wave of builders in lime mortar techniques as well as masonry, metalwork and joinery. A new programme of training will start in Spring 2005, under the guidance of Master Stone Mason Henry Rumbold, aided by conservation specialist Steve Finney (See Training section on this website). Journeymen The Trust was also pleased in 2002 to announce a collaboration with the Journeymen from West Germany - to whom we give a grant and whose house in Sibiu we have helped restore.   These brilliant young craftsmen - metal workers, joiners, masons and fine plasterworkers - are based in Romania for several months at a time and help us train in the Saxon villages.   One important piece of their work for us has been  to install a new roof on the beautiful church in Floresti - once belonging to the Bethlen family.   Although this church is deconsecrated, the MET hopes to repair its interior - and give it new life.  The intention is for it to become a place for village celebrations and exhibitions.		Our house next to the Leather Coat Makers' tower in Sighisoara. We are renovating a flat in the central square of Sighisoara. MET trustee, with architect and German journeyman.

Sibiu
In 2001 four demanding facades were repaired in Sibiu by our mobile team, under the training and supervision of Stuart Preece. It is three of these that have received !st,2nd and 3rd prize from a West German conservation organisation active in Sibiu.

In 2002, work was completed on restoring a lovely house -  nr 10, Piata Aurarilor (bought by the MET in 2001). 

(after completion)

(during works)

Cisnadie

At the request of Father Cosoroaba, Minister of the Lutheran Church in Cisnadie, the Trust restored five buildings in the town during 2001. The façades  were completed using lime mortar. The buildings chosen had particularily beautiful stucco work.

Sighisoara
A prominent façade, the House on the Rock, was restored by the MET in 2001.


This provides an example of high-quality restoration using traditional materials and techniques, which compares well with the expensive and unsympathetic restoration carried out (at treble the cost) on another important building in the square.

The Trust has bought a house on the ramparts, attached to the Leathermakers' Tower. In agreement with the Mayor we are restoring and converting  the Leathermakers' Tower into an exhibition space for teaching conservation work. The World Bank is restoring one other tower along the ramparts.

The Trust also has an apartment in the citadel square which will be used to further the Trust's work.