Hay Symbiosis: A Vernacular Innovation Hub in Apos, Romania
by
[Hazri Mohd Razali]
Tutors [Toby Smith] | [Alexandra
[Maria Faraone]
Master in Applied Design In Architecture
Oxford School of Architecture
[Hay Symbiosis: A Vernacular Innovation Hub in Apos, Romania/ DS6]
Note: All unreferenced drawings, sketches, renders, diagrams/illustrations, and other creative works in this portfolio are the original intellectual property of the author. Any external sources have been appropriately cited and credited both in-text citations and in bibliography.
ABSTRACT/ INTRODUCTION
Architecture has always been defined as creating a space or a structure for humans to live under. However, the concept of space is often misunderstood due to the lack of understanding of spatial justice where we tend to have preconceived notions about the space that we create is only for humans to live in. If we look at the bigger picture of the whole entity of our environment. The concept of us creating space should also be beneficial for other species so that we can allow exchange between the circle of nature. Understanding the concept of ecology is a fundamental step to exemplify the principles of beliefs that were mentioned above. This portfolio captures the author’s understanding of the spatial justice relationship between humans, nature, and also other potential organisms through the understanding of environment, materiality, technology and vernacularism. The final narrative from the portfolio is driven by these research parameters from different perspectives and sources that sometimes might step out a little bit from the main topic to provide a more comprehensive and deliberate understanding.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1: [Narrative]
- History
- Haraway’s Idea
- Real life events
- Reflection
Chapter 2: [Contextual Study]
- Land Grabbing Issues
- Prominence of Bears
- Project Manifesto
Chapter 3: [Brief]
- Project Brief
- Project Ultimate Strategy
Chapter 4: [Project Logic]
- Desicion Logic
- Decision Trees
- Methodology
- Key Plan
- Site Plan
- Stakeholders
Chapter 5: [Project Output]
- Project Timeline (Initial)
- Scale (Building Prameters)
- Scale (Precedent Study)
- Schedule of Accommodation
- Bubble diagram and Flow Study
- Retrofit and Sustainable analysis
- Floor Plans
- Section Drawings
- Facade and Vernacular Guidelines Study
- Detail Section and Exploded Drawings
- Elevation Drawings
- Health and Risks Analysis
Chapter 6: [Appendices]
- Project 3D development
- Bibliography
[Narrative] - History - Haraway’s Idea - Real life events - Reflection
CHAPTER 1
From 1947 until 1989, the people of Romania were oppressed under the communist dictatorship. It all started with the Soviet takeover and ended with Nicolae Ceausescu’s leadership. The people of Romania finally gained independence in 1989 from the dictatorship led by Nicolae Ceaușescu and were liberated through the power of the people’s revolution and democracy. The revolution began with highly motivated protests in Timisoara, which later spread across the country. The movement was later resulting in Ceaușescu’s and his wife’s overthrow and execution. The final scene marking the end of their dictatorship marks the moment of victory for the people of Romania and the Romanian people are finally liberated from oppression. Since then, Romania has made significant progress in various sectors, including politics, economics, education, and social reforms, reflecting the sheer strength of its people’s will, and their focus to transform Romania into a great power in Europe. Romania’s membership in the EU and also NATO suggests the nation’s full commitment to implementing modernisation and progress in infrastructure which captures the promise of the people for a better nation’s future. [35] 36]
If we take a step back and zoom out to take perspective into a bigger picture, a deeper question emerges from previous thoughts: What truly defines “Romanian”? Generally, we tend to have the preconceived notion that “Romanian” is the synonym for the people of Romania, however, after some collective knowledge and wisdom gained from Donna Haraway’s ideas in her writing “When Species Meet (2008)”, the idea of multispecies coexistence challenged us to see beyond the human perspective and boundaries. Haraway’s ideas suggest we explore more inclusive perspectives by removing anthropocentric viewpoints and embracing the interconnectedness of humans, animals, and nature. Standing in Haraway’s position, her writing defines that Romanian is not just about the people. But it is about the rich ecosystems that stretch across the Romania border, which includes the animals and landscapes.
In this narrative, the author has a very specific organism to be considered in the design research: the bear of Romania. The bear of Romania is not only a huge part of the ecosystem, but they are contributing to the country’s identity, shaping the culture and history.
Considering Haraway’s idea that nature and animals are part of Romania’s identity just as much as the people, it drives us to rethink how we treat them. Unfortunately, while Romanians have freed and liberated themselves from other human oppression, they are now unknowingly or unintentionally becoming the new oppressor, by gambling on the animal’s lives they share their land with. Now, the table has turned, the position that used to be hated so much by the people, is being taken by none other than themselves. - The oppressed become the oppressor. This irony triggers deeper thoughts on another ethical question: How can true freedom exist if it comes at the cost of other living things?
An unfolding event involving natural habitat occurs in a small village called Hosman, roughly 30 kilometres from Sibiu becomes the agency of the narrative. A major agricultural company exploited loopholes in the national land-use laws of Romania to take over public land without actually owning it. The company managed to put fences across the vast landscapes, disrupting not just human pathways but also animals, which used migratory or hunting routes for countless animal species. The barriers set by the company force the animals to be concentrated in one area, where they will usually face unnatural encounters with other species. The products from this issue are usually devastating, animal species like brown bears, whose behaviour is usually highly dependent on instinct, are driven to explore human settlements in search of food and safe space. Tragically, despite bears being the victims under these circumstances, they are seen as major threats and are often killed by humans. It has become an irony, where these beautiful creatures are supposed to be the symbols of Romania’s wild beauty, but being killed simply for trying to survive. This is not just about fences and bears, it is a reminder of how human actions (even unintentional ones), can cause disrupt the cycle of life that we all depend on. This issue becomes a wake-up call for Romania to take the stage and reconsider its relationship with nature. [34]
Perhaps, the most disturbing part of this story is the imagery that it evokes. The scene where the brown bears walk in a single line through unfamiliar territory, not knowing what are their fate, brings to mind another tragedy: The Rohingya Crisis. The comparison is almost uncanny, the Rohingya people were displaced from their homes, and forced to march into the unknown, and during the process, many died from starvation, dehydration, or even drowning [37] . These issues remind us that the suffering of others, whether it’s humans or animals, should be treated the same. To honour the spirit of freedom as shown during the 1989 revolution, we must extend the spirit to all who call this land home - Romania is a home for humans and non-humans. [37]
[Contextual Study]
- Land Grabbing Issues - Prominence of Bears - Project Manifesto
CHAPTER 2
Lands that are rich with natural resources are often being grabbed and transformed into various land uses.
4 out of 19 million Romanian are considered as peasant, and most of them are working in agriculture field.
Existing Challenge: Transferring land property is extremely difficult due to a lack of documentation and land registry.
1 farmer owns small pieces of land; the lands are usually scattered in different areas.
Approximately 150,000 small farms disappeared within those years, while bigger farms owned by large corporate companies increased by 3%.
After the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, the Romanian government initiated land restitution laws to return the collectivised land to its former private owners or their heirs. However, the lack of reliable records and systematic approaches, the land that was planned to be returned was often divided into smaller parcels during the restoration process. Families that inherit the fragmentation of the parcel were later divided the small parcels into smaller plots resulting a messy and scattered ownership across generations.
Socio-economic-wise, serious cases of land fragmentation in Romania cause low efficiency of agricultural development in Romania, especially for small farmers. Nonetheless, the agricultural land in Romania can still produce almost one-third of the country’s natural food consumption.
(Dogaru et al., 2024)
of Romanian
Mega corporate / investment companies bought the land to combine it into single chunks of land for more efficient agricultural development.
MapInfographic3.0:ShowsthelandgrabbingissuesinRomania,andwhoisresponsible for it according to Eco Ruralis (2015)
1 million ha of agricultural land in Romania is owned by overseas investors/companies. The main factor that caused this issue is that since the land in Romania is versatile and highly suitable for farming, it became a target for investors. The investors were then to buy the land in bulk because there is no restriction to purchase the farm land in Romania as long as the companies are registered with Romania’s commercial registry.
Fragmented pieces of land that are scattered and owned by different small farmers.
1/10
Agricultural Land owned by overseas / mixed national companies
30% of Romania’s population is comprised of people associated with the agricultural field and they are likely to live in the rural area. Since the farm land took over their land, these people lost their jobs and they did not have the skills to work in the cities.
Agriculture knowledge in Romania is a traditional wisdom that has been passed down through generations. However, since most of the small farmer’s land has been taken away, they lost their connection with the land.
This issue has led to a heavy loss in biodiversity in Romania due to the agro-business developing in the area destroying the ecosystem through intense deforestation and soil pollution produced by fertilisers and pesticides.
Camera traps are placed in several places to study the circulation of the animals.
Map Infographic 4.0: Shows the land grabbing impact to wildlife in Romania According to Peisaj Deschis (2024)
Culture
Other than the importance of bears for biodiversity. Bear has been a really important wildlife figure to the Romanian people since the Dacian Empire. The culture of Romania includes bears in almost all traditions, and religions/beliefs.
Bears are considered sacred animals as they have a lot of spiritual value to the Dacian people. It symbolises the strength, resilience and connection to the spiritual realms. [40]
Totemic beliefs believe that bears are the spiritual protector of the people and the natural world, bears are also considered as portal between humans and the spirit realm. [38]
Beyond Boundaries, Beyond Ourselves.
Architecture as Stewardships
Architecture is not only for humans, it is a natural responsibility for us to nurture the interconnectedness of al living organisms. Every decision we make must honour the cycle and exchange of the web of life, fostering environments where human and non-human being thrive together.
End of Dominance
Reject the ideology of human dominance over nature, rather we embrace a new vision of coexistence, where architecture becomes the tool for collaboration, not control.
Porosities, not Boundaries
Tangible nor non-tangible barriers shall be removed, instilling the ideology of the harmony of our shared world. Architecture must dissolve the intoxicated boundaries, creating seamless spaces that allow for the free flow of every living organism as nature intended.
Rewilding Design
Remove the idea of anthropocentrism in architectural design to rewild space, restore ecosystems and embrace the wisdom of natural intentions and patterns. Materials, forms, systems, and products of technology shall harmonise with the environment, allowing exchange with nature - enabling regeneration rather than depletion
Ecology as Heritage
A nation’s identity is inseparable from its ecological heritage. Forests, mountains, and wildlife are cultural artefacts which must be celebrated through architecture.
A Wake-Up Call to Action
The bear dance, more known as “Ursul” in Romania, is a unique tradition that goes beyond pre-Christian influence times. Ursul dance is popular, especially during the winter holidays. This celebration is meant to be a blend of ancient pagan customs, folklore, and local beliefs, making it bespoke to the meaningful culture in Romania. [39]
Bear symbolism has been used in many art forms to depict its spiritual value - it can be found in literature, movies, toys, sculpture, etc.
This manifesto is a declaration and a challenge to architects, planners, and communities to redefine/rethink their role in sculpting the new world. Potentially designed not for humanity alone, but for the greater community of life.
Villagers in Romania wear them to ward off evil spirits.
Romance LanguageLatin Roots Music and Dance Folklore and Traditions Orthodox
Project Brief
The project is set to be a hay-based research and production facility in a rural village in Romania, called Apos. With traditional knowledge of farming and building techniques, the project aimed to explore how the vernacular methods and practices can redefined to support ecological and environmental justice - where humans and bears can live harmonically. Rather than just existing as a research and production facility, this idea aims to revive the agricultural economy while enhancing a deeper understanding and awareness of species’ dependency. The project celebrates hay as not just a building material but as the bridge between the two species to coexist.
Circular Economy - Greatest Sustainability
The project foresee farmers to cultivate the hay products and transform/develop the raw material into an industrial product to be used in construction. The waste product from the process (hay compost) is highly nutritious and it is good for the environment since it can be used as a natural fertiliser. This fertiliser will then be spread onto corn plantations, which are planted to feed the bears.
Since the corn grows using organic fertiliser, the bears’ faeces become more nutritious too. The project expects that bears will naturally excrete in the hay fields, which will help improve the soil quality. As a result, the next batch of hay harvested by the farmers will be better in quality. This cycle will keep repeating, and it brings benefits to both the farmers and the bears.
CHAPTER 4
[Project Logic] - Desicion Logic - Decision Trees - Methodology - Key Plan - Site Plan - Stakeholders
As per the site analysis introduction, the chosen site is in Romania, specifically in the central part of the country, the site is surrounded by forests and a beautiful mountain - the Carpathian Mountains. The Carpathian Mountains are the home to many wildlife species, especially bears.
Suitable area Corridor
According to Romania Dacia (2016), bears in Romania are practically like to live in a place where it is not inhabited by humans. Based on the data gained from the website, we observed that the density of the bears is closely related to the shape of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. This concludes that bears are likely to be found in forests or mountain areas in Romania.
Zoom in on the central part of Romania, close to our site (Apos). The data shown by Peisaj Deschis (n.d), in one of their presentation slides suggests that there are specific places where wildlife (including bears) is suitable for them to live and corridors for them to travel from one place to another.
The data from their presentation slides also suggests that their movements are highly dependent on seasons, and it is either east to west, or vice versa.
However, the biggest constraint in this study is that the project could not acquire the specific bears’ path in Apos due to a lack of reliable data from the internet. Hence, we could not locate the bears to define our site.
Decision Trees
A series of decision trees is made to conclude where, how, and when humans encounter bears in Romania based on the data collection from (Bombieri et al., 2019). The decision trees cover the location likeliness of people meeting the species.
Input A and B
These two inputs are the most important. Highlighting the direction of where the bears will travel (according to Peisaj Deschis’s presentation slides).
Input Cs are highly dependent on the decision tree. The probability of bears meeting humans in (C2.1 = Forests), (C2.2 = Agricultural Fields), (C2.3 = Villages). The higher the probability is, the stronger the attraction for the bear in the simulation.
Any boundaries (Electrical Fences)
Simulation - Behavioural Analysis
The simulation will predict how bears circulate and travel around Apos, and what are the probabilities for them to meet at certain places.
Input C
Input D
Simulation - Geographical factors
Simulation Constraint 1.0
The biggest constraint from the behavioural simulation is the incapabilities of the program to read the Y-axis, or in this case - the terrain and contour of the site. The geographical factors are important to be considered in the simulation system, to understand and predict the bears’ movement accurately.
Simulation Opportunity 1.0
The constraint, however, becomes another research methodology opportunity as the simulation is supported with another computation system to make the simulation capable of reading Y-axis values.
Simulation Opportunity 2.0
To gain more comprehensive data, the new code is designated to read the topography surface, instead of the linear target as previously described.
Simulation Constraint 2.0
Another obstacle while running the simulation is that the Y-Axis does not read the contour surface - it only reads the Y-Axis as a straight path (Consistent gradient)
Simulation Completed
The final output from the programming and coding combined resulting a deliberate prediction of bears movement in Apos.
Key Plan
The key plan shows the prediction of bears’ movement in Apos, and this becomes a decisive finding to construct the design research framework. The circulation of bears in Apos helps to identify which area could have been selected as the hay and corn field to feed the earlier narrative of this project’s idea. The bear will travel from east to west during the spring, therefore, the corn plantation is decided to be placed on the east side of the village, with the size of 426,000m2, while the hay field is decided to be placed on the west side with the size of 307,000m2. The perimeter of the site is defined by the highest/densest place for bears to potentially gather in Apos. The size of areas gained from this study will determine the scale of the project later on.
Hay Field
Corn Field
Site Plan
The decision to choose the humans’ site is linear and straightforward compared to the bears’. In Apos, there are a lot of abandoned and/or missing houses since everyone is leaving the village. The buildings on the site, as shown in the site plan (size of 2900m2), are some of the sites that were abandoned by the villagers. That being said, the size of the site was particularly measured and chosen due to its capabilities of accommodating the facilities that will be discussed in the later chapter.
1.0,
Insight - Opportunity From Existing Conditions
There are multiple existing amenities in Apos, and they are mainly religious buildings - which are rich with histories, and also educational facilities - such as schools, and an equestrian centre. And finally, industrial - clay and blacksmith workshops. This is important to be highlighted to be taken into consideration in design decision-making.
Photo
1.1, 1.2: (Google Maps, 2012) Examples of Abandoned Houses in Apos
Photo 2.0 & 3.0: Razali, H. (2024) Examples of Traditional Workshop in Action in Apos.
Apos Lutheran Church
Biserica Sfântul Gheorghe (Church)
Scoala Gimnazială Apos (Primary School)
Centrul De Echitatie Apos Judetul Sibiu (Equestrian Facility)
Villa Abbatis Equestrian
Black Smith Workshop Clay Workshop Woodworking Workshop
Mihai’s vision is supported and partially funded by the Anglo-Romanian Trust for Traditional Architecture (ARTTA) - a charitable initiative under the King Charles III Charitable Fund. With ARTTA, Mihai’s group receive the necessary resources and training to help them achieve Mihai’s vision in Apos - restore the vernacular building using authentic materials, skills, and techniques, create opportunities for young local apprentices to learn conservative heritage techniques, and develop a sustainable and circular economy in the village.
With support from ARTTA and other similar networks, the local cooperative that led Mihai, it is not only protecting and celebrating the heritage but also inspiring and acting as an example of how vernacular in architecture and economic sense can shape the future of rural villages like Apos.
Working with partners such as Eco Ruralis and Peisaj Deschis helps to defend rural farmers from illegal land grabbing that continuously happening. By enlarging the network and stakeholders, the project can grow stronger and have a more lasting impact.
Mihai’s group vision and mission align with the project’s interests. Mainly to encourage knowledge-sharing on vernacular tools and how to use local resources to help with the circular economy. The project can benefit from collaborating with other local cooperatives who share the same values. These groups could add value to the project - protect the land from corporate land grabbing by keeping it in the control of local people, and promote coexistence between species (humans and wildlife).
Photo 5.0: (KCCF, n.d.) King Charles III Charitable Fund Logo on their official website
Photo 4.0: Razali. H, (2024) Mihai Barbu is demonstrating the process of making clay tiles using traditional method to the visitng students
CHAPTER 5
[Project Output]
- Project Timeline (Initial)
- Scale (Building Prameters)
- Scale (Precedent Study)
- Schedule of Accommodation
- Bubble diagram and Flow Study
- Retrofit and Sustainable analysis
- Floor Plans
- Section Drawings
- Facade and Vernacular Guidelines Study
- Detail Section and Exploded Drawings
- Elevation Drawings
- Health and Risks Analysis
Present (2025) The current condition of Apos
Near Future(2026) : The Progress of Redevelopment
Unfortunately, peaceful and historical villages like Apos are slowly being abandoned. However, where there is life, there is hope. Based on our experience during the site visit, we managed to meet with the local cooperatives in Apos led by Mihai Barbu, which are doing a restoration project in the village while maintaining the vernacular sense in the hope of reviving the village’s life.
Illustration 1.0: Abandoned and missing houses in Apos. (Source: Google Maps, 2012)
group’s main goal in reviving Apos is to support small-scale workers and the local economies. He believes that his goal is achievable by encouraging community-led innovation, such as brick making and blacksmithing, and shared stewardship of the village’s natural resources.
The project is more than just a retrofit project, it’s a cultural enhancement. By engaging both locals and outsiders in making high and low-tech vernacular machines and materials, and carving their names into the materials and the surface of the machines, the project helps to create a deep sense of belonging and participation.
Other than knowledge sharing through communal wisdom, this practice nurtures community pride helps with social unity and blends traditional craftsmanship with innovation. Over time, it evolves into a new cultural ritual (that occurs depending on the seasonal change), where architecture becomes a shared legacy rather than just a physical structure for people to live under. By integrating collective ownership and sustainable practices for both humans and the environment, the project not only builds spaces but also nurtures a living tradition of collaboration and identity of the people in Apos.
Mihai’s
Project Scale
Given the farm size as per research analysis and synthesis of 306,000m² the yearly hay yield is approximately 22,680 small square bales, which is equivalent to over 3,200m³ of hay per year. Considering the stacking health and safety risk of storage practice, the storage volume requirement is roughly 4,000m³, hence, equating to a building foodprint of about 575m² at a safe and reasonable hay stacking height. This calculation gives a sense of the scale of how big the existing building needs to be designed - allowing architecture to comprehensively and deliberately express the productive capacity of the landscape.
Step 1: Research and site analysis suggest the hay farm-land size is approximately 306,000m²
Step 2 Analysing the potential of average hay yield per year.
1 small square bales = 900mm (L) x 450mm (W) x 350mm (H)
The volume of 1 small square bale = 0.142m3
The weight of 1 small square bale = ~ 20 - 25kg
According to The Farming Forum, 2018. Most hay farms in Europe soil that have moderate soil fertility, and good weather can yield 2.5 3.5 tonnes per acre per year (dry weight).
Step 3: Contextualise site climate to estimate how many crops per year
Step 4 Required storage volume for hay bales in the retrofitted buildings.
Schofield (1944) highlights that tropical countries typically have 3 4 cuts per year. However, according to (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), n.d.), temperate climate countries can only achieve up to 1 - 2 cuts per year.
Note: Assume that the required storage volume only has 80% efficiency (Eff due to allowance for the air gap, human circulation, services, structure, etc. Storage
The appropriate size to accommodate and store the hay product as part of the building program requires at least 575m²
Equivalent to more or less the size of three tennis courts.
Note: Romania does not follow any specific regulation for safe hay stacking height. The statement above is supported according to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland.
Target Audience 1: Farmers who lost their jobs due to illegal land grabbing. Target Audience 2 Students learning vernacular tools and material making Target Audience 3 Researchers - learning vernacular tools and material making
Analysis: Target Audience1
As the census data for 2021, (Porumb et al., 2024) suggests the village Apos in Sibiu County, Romania, had a population of 327 residents. Romanian villages typically have a median of about 2 to 3 people under 1 roof.
In a best-case scenario, assume that each house has 2 adults and 1 minor, the 2 adults are working, while 1 minor is still studying in school. (CEIC Data, 2024) suggest only a little more than half of people in rural areas in Romania are employed. With that, Assuming that not all adults are healthy, physically fit, and at working age, it is safe to assume only 1 adult per household is fit to work on the farm.
3.0:
Land
Itisdocumentedinthepreviouschapterthatsmallfarmersarelosingtheirlandsbecause of illegal land-grabbing in Romania. According to a study Transnational Institute (TNI), in 2013, roughly 30–40% of small farmers in this region were affected by this endemic.
The number of farmers who potentially lost their jobs due to land-grabbing is at least 12 people.
2.0:
According to Eurostat, 25% - 30% of rural employment in Romania is in agriculture. However, considering that Apos is part of the agrarian Transylvanian region, it is safe to consider the percentage could be higher.
The number of people who are potentially working as a farmer in the village is at most 41 people.
Grymsdyke Farm is a residency and workshop whose main function is to accommodate a research facility and fabrication workshop for designers, architects, and also artists. The participant’s number of what is the maximum amount of people in 1 farm is not publicly documented, this argument is solely based on personal experience of spending 17 days in the facility. This first-hand engagement has shaped the precedent study for this project, following a practice-based research approach where direct observation becomes the key method for understanding spatial relationships and daily operations.
Diagram
Razali, H. (2025) Estimated Workforce Distribution
Diagram
Razali, H. (2025) Impact of
Grabbing on Small Farmers in Apos
Diagram 4.0: Razali, H. (2025) Venn Diagram of Grymsdyke Farm Facilities
Photo 5.0: Rural Romanian Farmer protesting against illegal land grabbing in RomaniaSource: ARC2020, 2017
Photo 6.0: Razali. H, (2023) Entrance to communal space at the Grymsdyke Farm
Precedent Studies
Precedent Studies
Note: Female accommodation is identical to male. Hence, the size will be doubled for the final consideration. The only additional part is that the female toilet has its own toilet (2400mm (L) x 1200mm (W) 2100mm (H).
The appropriate size to accommodate and facilitate hay workshop for the farmer as part of the building program requires at most 374.39m2
Target Audience 2 Students - learning vernacular tools and material making Target Audience 3 Researchers - learning vernacular tools and material making
The total accommodation of the project is around 26 people, including the guest ensuite. Since about 12 permanent farmers are living and working on-site, this leaves around 14 extra spaces for visiting participants. The research and workshop areas, based on what I’ve studied from the Grymsdyke Farm precedent, can handle up to 15 people working at the same time. So, while there might be space for 14 visitors to stay overnight, only 3 of them at a time can actively join the workshop alongside the farmers. This means visitors will rotate in smaller groups, which works well to keep the workspace manageable and productive, while still creating an active and collaborative environment across the whole programme.
From my experience at Grymsdyke Farm, found that although the accommodation can host up to 20 people (caretaker and guest suite facilities and accommodation are not taken into account), the comfortability of the facilities for daily working capacity is around 15 people. This helps to understand and justify the designed and retrofitted space for the project’s program to be space-efficient, and practical, and avoid negative/wasted space.
In parallel with the earlier calculation showing the number of farmers in Apos who may have lost their jobs due to illegal land-grabbing (12 farmers). This number fits closely with the working capacity that experienced at the Grymsdyke Farm - which supports around 15 people in one go.
This alignment between the two analyses the reasoning behind the design, that it shows that the workshop, fabrication areas, and studios, can be replicated and meet the practical needs of the local farmers as the main users for the buildings. The space stays flexible but realistic, and it answers the social needs of the community.
Diagram 6.0: Razali, H. (2025) Design Reasoning Diagram: Balanced System Collaborative
There are several abandoned buildings in Apos, Romania. While the reason why people abandon it might vary, it is unfortunate for people to leave those beautiful traditional saxon buildings. The main strategy for this project to tackle the brief is through retrofitting, engineering, and redefining the existing building space. Hence, it is important to understand the scale of the project, to comprehensively and deliberately strategise how much space is needed to be added or removed. This whole chapter takes into consideration step-bystep and contextualises every single piece of data to understand the social needs of the people in the village.
The amount of hay expected to be yielded in a year gives the idea of how much space is needed to be totalled with the amount of space to accommodate the permanent workers and visitors giving the sense of the expected building scale of this project which is at 949.39 m² floor area.
Note: The material store and storage spaces will change depending on the hay season. When the landscape is full of hay, the building is mostly empty, so it can be used as an event space. As the hay gets harvested and the landscape clears, the storage starts to fill up and the space becomes more flexible, using temporary partitions when needed. In winter, when the landscape is empty and the storage is full, the space goes back to its main function as storage. Also, when the building is filled with hay, especially during the colder months, the hay naturally acts as insulation for the space.
Diagram 7.0: Razali, H. (2025) Schedule of Accomodation
Bubble Diagram
Sustainable and environmental calculation
Note: The approximate embodied carbon data for each material is obtained from Hammond and Jones, (2011) in their report Inventory of Carbon and Energy (ICE).
Existing Ground Floor Plan
Sustainable and environmental calculation
Note: The interior space planning and structure of the building are highly determined through analysis of typical Transylvanian Floor Plan as shown in the conservation of traditional houses in Viscri articles (Nechita, 2024). While the size sof the existing buildings are based on Google Maps measurements and street view surveys.
Sustainable and environmental calculation
Note While the numbers of the Total Embodied Carbon might not be 100% precise, the numbers from the calculations create a good rule of thumb for the sustainability of this project
Building Program
07.00am
“After we woke up from bed and prepared ourselves, we went straight away to the communal space to have breakfastwiththefarmers,weshared our thoughts and experiences that we gained from our place…”
“We help each other to clean up, and immediately start our work with research and digital making in our computer…”
“Research and digital making can be time-consuming, right after we had lunch, we started working on our projects in the workshop. We share our knowledge with colleagues, and help each other to handle the machineries that they are unfamiliar with…”
“At the end of the day, we gather around with each other and talk about ourprogress,wecooktogetherfordinner and go back to our dormitories…”
Building Program
07.00am
“Sometimes, we can be a little bit too busy that we miss out on the opportunitytohavebreakfastwiththeothers. We start our day as early as we can, and plan on what we need to obtain within the working hours…”
09.00am
“Since we had breakfast by ourselves, we went straight away to the studio and the digital-making workshop to test our project or product. The facilities are great, we can get a variety of references in the studio because there are plenty of books in the room and in the communal area…”
05.00pm
“Our routine lasts until the evening. Since we couldn’t join them in the morning, the researchers group worked with each other to cook with the students as well. While the conversations are usually informal, we technically share our experiences and knowledge to help them with their projects…”
09.00pm
“Afterwefinishedwithourcommunity activities, we spent our final working hours with self-reflection on the daily progress before heading off to bed…”
Design Decision Detail
Precedent Study : Traditional Romanian Giant Hay Stack
Construction Study : Sectional Detail
Design Decision
Decision Guideline : Tranyslvanian House Preservation
Construction Study: Detail B
Dynamism in culture and ecology
Far away from the urban areas and the main roads lies the Hârtibaciu Valley, and there is a small village surrounded by farmland, where hay is the main crop for livestock, and abandoned buildings are finding new purposes. Some have been transformed into workshops for hay production, while others function as storage spaces. The dynamic relationship between the architecture and the changing landscape became one of the key elements that made the building insightful. When the fields are full of hay, the barn stands empty, opening up possibilities for events or gatherings. As harvesting season begins, the space of the workshop shifts again, creating partitions for different activities. Once the fields are fully cropped, the barn fills up with hay, both before and after processing. This constant change between the land and built space creates a rhythm that follows the seasons. The dynamic relationship proves that the inhabited space can be more than just a functional adaptation, but also a reflection of how architecture can live and breathe with its surroundings, making space more flexible, sustainable, and deeply connected to its environment. The constant back-and-forth physical states of the man-made structure and nature also become the symbol of the celebration of the small village’s new culture.
A
Note: In spring, the building welcomes the community, the building is mainly empty, calm, and full of possibility. Many events can be made in the building itself. Hay is not yet harvested, spaces have not been filling in. For a moment, it’s a place where it’s quiet and harmony. Just like the sound of the masterpiece by Antonio Vivaldi - Spring.
Left Elevation: Spring
A Building That Grows With the Seasons
Note: In summer, the building begins to fill with life and material. The hay harvest season comes like a storm, and the architecture responds. Its wall thickens with hays from inside, each room shifting its function. What was open and communal from spring now is full of hays. Farmers becoming more active, guiding each other through shared knowledge that is passed down through generations. The mood and intensity of the movement are just like the sound of the masterpiece by Antonio Vivaldi - Summer.
Front Elevation: Summer
A Building That Grows With the Seasons
Rear Elevation: Autumn
Note: In autumn, the building finds itself at its busiest. The hay in Apos has been harvested, and all of the open spaces and racks are now filled with the cultivated products. Each room becomes storage, workshops become active more than usual. People return from the fields, each of them carrying their harvested hay from the field, and each of them has a story to tell. It is the peak moment of the building where people take advantage of the season as the moment to gather. Just like Antonio Vivaldi’s Autumn - energy rises in the music resembling the celebration of effort.
Hazri Mohd
A Building That Grows With the Seasons
Right Elevation: Winter
Note: The final moment of the building has come - winter. The life of the building becomes still. The hay is well stored and preserved with walls that cover it from inside and outside. The landscape turns white, and the golden hay can be seen no more. The absence of hay is a symbol of the resting moment of the entire year for the land, people, and the building itself. Just like Vivaldi’s Winter, a time for self-reflection. A moment to breathe, and prepare for the next cycle.
Typology: Community Space
Type of Space: Communal Hall + Dining + Kitchen
This facility falls under the category of vocational facilities, which is the primary legal framework governing fire safety in Romania “Normativ privind securitatea la incendiu a constructiilor” complemented by Law No. 307/2006 on fire prevention and Government Decision No. 915/2015. Failure to comply with the fire safety regulations could result in penalties.
1. Number and Width of Emergency Exits.
a) The regulations on fire safety of buildings in Romania state that only if the floor area of the space is more than 200m² and/or the number of occupants is more than 50 should two independent emergency exits. The space area that is shown above floor areas is less than 200m² and the number of occupants is only up to 25. Therefore, the design decision that was concluded during the process was only to make one independent emergency exit with one main entrance.
b) While the minimum recommendation for fire exit in Romania is 750mm. The width of the designated emergency exit is at 1800mm, making it sufficient to allow smooth and safe evacuation of the inhabitants.
Health
Typology: Fabrication Workshop
Type of Space: Main Workshop
a) The maximum travel distance to the nearest exit is depending on whether the building is facilitate with sprinklers or not. The furthest travel distance that it can stretch if sprinkled is at 45m. However, this project need to provide the nearest travel distance of 30m due to the absence of sprinkler system in the building.
b) The floor plan is designed to maximise the performance and practical capacity of processing and making hay products. Due to the sensitivity of fire regulations in the designing process, the decision was made not to put any furniture or appliances at the evacuation routes.
2. Travel Distance and Evacuation Routes
Interior View of Main Workshop
Typology: Fabrication Workshop
a) Vocational buildings are considered high-risk buildings in the fire safety regulation of Romania. Therefore, it is mandatory to install smoke detectors and alarm systems that can alert the occupants in case of fire.
b) It is important to highlight that these systems must regularly be tested, hence, the position of the systems must be accessible for inspection.
3) Fire Detection and Alarm Sytems
Project End Game
Future (2035) : Coexists between species finally achieved
The coexistence between humans and bears has finally been achieved. Humans are fully aware of how important bears’ presence is to supporting and sustaining their daily routine of creating a circular economy to bring back the village’s life fullness while maintaining the village’s natural rhythm. Now the hay fields thrive with nutritionists hays that feed the bears, while humans gained economic advantage from it. Bears are no longer being killed unnecessarily and can travel/migrate safely to find food, breed, and hibernate. Their paths are respected, not disturbed. Perhaps, the best way for humans and bears to live together is not by constant interaction, but by mutual respect from a distance.
“Bears used to be afraid of humans…”
“Humans are taking advantage of the hay-based material-making process by eliminating the waste products to the corn and maize plantation…”
“Humans decided to find ways to coexist while finding a new way to revive their village…”
Far Future (2100) : The current condition of Apos
“Oh, finally...”
A quiet, understanding, and empathy that both lives matter, and both belong.
“About a century later, architecture in Apos is no longer an invention that asserts dominance on the land, rather, it adapts to it. The traditional Transylvanian houses and structures are raised, enough to let not just the bears, but all wildlife move freely beneath them. The simple shift of creating safe corridors created safe paths for bears to roam without crossing, interacting, or encountering human boundaries. The village is quiet now, but not abandoned. The quietness of the village is a transformation of humans and bears rarely crossing paths, yet their lives are still depending on each other. The new architecture goal is no longer to try to assert dominance over nature but to work with it. The future is not just imagined, it does not stay long as a concept, it builds on the work that is already being done by the local groups, Like Mihai Barbu’s. With trust, care, and communal effort a small village like Apos, can find a way to thrive...”
