Nominator: Marius Miclaus

M.E.K.A. - MUSEUM OF ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND AWARNESS
Born from waste, M.E.K.A. builds an architecture of communion, turning waste into resource, the factory into public infrastructure, and recycling into a cultural act. Set within the recovered structure of the former Mecatim platform in Timișoara, the Museum of Ecological Knowledge and Awareness unites three programs: a plastic recycling plant, an applied research institute, and a museum. Architecture becomes part of the technological and social chain: filament production, 3D printing, material research, and the public visibility of the process form one coherent system. A modular structure, made partly from recycled plastic and local resources, supports courtyards, technical zones, and exhibition rooms, all stitched by a continuous public route. Plastic, both raw material and architectural expression, is recovered and returned to the city, making recycling a founding gesture.

NICOLAE BALCESCU - HIGHSCHOOL COMPETITION

For THEssential Office, this was our first major competition win, an essential launchpad developed with SQM Architecture and Filip’s Concept, where shared beliefs became a coherent architectural statement. We propose that a school in the heart of the city needs a heart of its own. The project strengthens the historic building and inserts simple, compact new volumes that reshape the street fronts and define a protected, playful courtyard where past and present meet. Along Canalul Morii, the promenade is reactivated through minimal interventions over the uncovered canal, enabling flexible movement on both sides and linking paths at multiple levels. Removing parasitic additions helps reclaim pedestrian space and reduce car traffic. Tree planting along cycling routes buffers the school and recalls historic drainage. Colored precast concrete unifies old and new through a rigorous, tectonic language, balanced by deep façade voids and subtle perforation.

THE SMOKING ROOM

The smoking room was one of our most satisfying projects, thanks to its small scale and the fact that we could closely supervise the execution. It is a compact metal pavilion designed as a space for relaxation and smoking. Conceptually, we aimed for a light, diaphanous structure that still feels protective, providing shade on the south-facing side. The object also brings visual clarity to an area marked by multiple, conflicting languages and functions. Beyond its use as a smoking space, it conceals a series of air-conditioning units placed on the façade and exposed to the public realm. This metal “lace” screens and protects during the day, then opens up at night, softly filtering the light that spills from the interior.