April 2026
Reșița Industrial Heritage Lab 2026
Interdisciplinary Summer School 📅 July 22 – July 31, 2026 | 📌 Reșița
The "Reșița Industrial Heritage Lab" is an interdisciplinary summer school dedicated to industrial heritage, organized by MKBT and the Non-Formal Spatial Planning Workshop under the umbrella of Reșița 250 Lab.
For 10 days, senior students and young professionals in architecture, urban planning, landscaping, and restoration will collaborate to develop a strategic regeneration vision and adaptive reuse scenarios for the Reșița Machine Building Plant (UCMR). Spanning nearly 30 hectares near the historic industrial center, UCMR is an exceptional heritage complex at a crossroads. Recently, partially acquired by the City Hall for transformation and public access, the site includes everything from industrial halls and administrative offices to protocol villas, underground bunkers, and a small factory museum.
Through fieldwork, discussions, and hands-on workshops, we will decode the historical, technological, and social layers of this complex site. We will explore its potential as an urban ensemble, an architectural object, and a symbolic anchor for a changing community.
Participants will be guided by Romanian and international experts in industrial heritage, urban regeneration, mobility, anthropology, and urban economics. The workshop will culminate in a strategic vision for UCMR, defining key directions for a future masterplan, incorporating nature-based solutions for public spaces, and proposing adaptive reuse scenarios for its landmark buildings. These results will be presented to local residents and public authorities in a final public event.
Read more about the first edition (dedicated to Blast Furnace No. 2) and its results HERE.
Senior students or young professionals (graduated within the last 4 years) in architecture, urbanism, landscaping, or restoration with Romanian or Moldovan citizenship.
Priority will be given to:
Candidates with a demonstrated interest in industrial heritage (projects, events, or relevant experience).
Candidates from the Mountainous Banat region (though selection is not limited to this area).
A balanced, interdisciplinary group across academic fields and gender to encourage diverse collaboration.
A unique learning experience focused on a site of exceptional national value.
The chance to work alongside a curated interdisciplinary team and top-tier specialists.
A platform to apply academic skills to real-world challenges and present them to key institutional stakeholders.
10 days in Reșița, the heart of Romania's most dense and valuable industrial heritage region.
Fill in in the application form (HERE) by April 24, 12:00 PM. The results will be sent via email by May 11. Depending on the volume of applications, we may include a pre-selection stage consisting of online interviews.
Participation is free. The organizers provide:
Shared accommodation (2–3 students per room with private bathroom).
Three meals per day from July 22 to July 31.
Participants must cover their own travel to and from Reșița. If travel costs are prohibitive, please contact us; a limited number of travel grants are available.
Attendance Requirements:
Participate in three online preparatory sessions (1.5 hours each) between July 13 and 21.
Be present in Reșița for the entire duration of the school (July 22–31).
MKBT (Make Better) MKBT focuses on urban regeneration in Romania, revitalizing communities in cities facing demographic or economic decline. They work systemically with public authorities and NGOs to lead interdisciplinary projects. MKBT has been active in Reșița since 2016, building an ecosystem centered on the city’s industrial legacy.
ANF (Non-Formal Spatial Planning Workshop Timișoara) ANF is an initiative that brings together urban planning concerns into a functional learning and operating system. It serves as a non-formal alternative to traditional professional training, focusing on methods that improve the built environment and community quality of life.
The "Reșița Industrial Heritage Lab" is part of the "Factory Universe" project, realized in partnership with Reșița City Hall and supported by the Order of Architects of Romania (OAR) through the architecture stamp fund.
© 2026 Resita 250+
