MĂNĂȘTUR CENTRAL—CINEMA DACIA. Developing a concept for a new community centre in a vacant cinema in a large—scale housing district using a participatory process
Figura 1 Conference of the artist Dan Perjovschi at Mănăștur Days in Cinema Dacia. Photo credits Pan Ioan Text by Elisabeth Kremer, Silviu Medeșan, Laura Panait CONTEXT : A DENSELY POPULATED DISTRICT WITHOUT A COMMUNITY CENTER Cluj-Napoca is the second most populous city in Romania with about 325,000 residents – and Mănăștur is one of its largest and most densely populated districts. The district primarily consists of socialist-era mass housing. Spaces for everyday communication and recreation are largely absent. Recently, the municipality invested in the renovation of a former cinema following a participatory budgeting process started in 2013. This renovation was completed in May 2016 – the city administration planned to create a community centre for the neighbourhood, but there were no plans regarding the activities that would take place there. Normally, the municipality manages the planning of the cultural program solely on a “first come, first served” basis, as is the