IULIUS reveals the name of its urban reconversion and regeneration project in Cluj-Napoca: RIVUS. Former industrial platform restored to the city as a community space: cultural, leisure and shopping concepts marking nationwide premieres

The latest urban reconversion and regeneration project proposed by IULIUS Group in Cluj-Napoca, the urban zoning plan of which was recently approved by the Local Council, will be named RIVUS. The Latin-origin word means ‘river’ and highlights the connection to Someș River. The project restores to the city 14 hectares formerly used as an industrial platform in the form of a mixed-use project, providing the community with a more interactive access to Someș River. The development of the river underpinned the architectural concept, from the fluid design and focus on natural elements, to the sustainability principles implemented. The investment estimated upwards of half-billion Euro made by companies IULIUS and Atterbury Europe will materialize in the mixed-use project with likely the widest diversity of uses in Romania – retail, office, culture, entertainment, park – with a total leasable area of 165,000 sqm. Discover the largest urban reconversion project in Romania at www.rivus.ro and on its social media platforms at www.instagram.com/rivuscluj, and www.facebook.com/rivuscluj.

The concept for the RIVUS project was signed by the architects at UNStudio, a world-renowned Dutch architecture firm, drawing inspiration from the expectations of the community. Thus, RIVUS will integrate the following:

• The largest retail area in Romania, spanning 145,000 sqm (integrating the 120,000 sqm shopping mall, as well as the complementary retail facilities) in a mixed-use concept that enhances the shopping experience with public and leisure services and facilities
• More than 400 stores, including regional and national premieres
• 30+ concept-restaurants and coffee shops overlooking Someș River
• Fresh Market for local producers
• A new park and landscaped green spaces spanning more than 52,000 sqm
• Japanese rooftop garden
• Two industrial buildings reconverted into cultural venues and office spaces
• Live arts center and auditorium
• First-to-region entertainment concepts for all ages
• The latest cinema technologies for the first time in Transylvania, as well as open air cinema
• Premium green office spaces – 15,000 sqm GLA
• Investments in connectivity and alternative mobility

“RIVUS symbolizes the constant flow if life, energy, and development, which form the cornerstone of our project, with an emphasis on the harmony between the built-up and natural spaces, thus creating the ideal symbiosis. Our proposal for the former Carbochim platform has a strong natural component, which consists in developing the Someș riverbanks, completing the green-blue corridor in the north side of the city, and creating a spectacular urban garden from scratch, which will cover a third of the total area of the project. RIVUS perfectly encapsulates our vision and we are confident that it will naturally evolve into not only a destination of choice, but also a new landmark for the modern, vibrant, and sustainable Cluj City. RIVUS project started by relocating and upgrading the Carbochim factory, which is now on a new trajectory, with prospects for development. We are currently preparing the land for the new project by dismantling the former industrial facilities, and we are happy to have taken a step forward in the permitting process,” said Sorin Guttman, RIVUS Manager.

RIVUS Cluj-Napoca, the first project implemented by UNStudio in Romania

For the first time in Romania, the project is bringing in the famous Dutch architects at UNStudio, whose portfolio includes iconic projects all over the world, such as the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, the Lyric Theatre Complex in Hong Kong, the Doha Metro, or the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam.

The development of Someș River underpinned the architectural concept, as UNStudio’s vision for this project focused on creating a connection between the new development, the city, and the currently inaccessible Someș riverbank. The fluidity and nature of the river dominates the design, building on the concept of concentric water drops which translate into the project in the form of light and landscaped public plazas, located both indoors and in the garden and outdoor premises. The fluid river lines are also integrated in the exterior façade, and natural materials such as wood and stone were selected to ensure a harmonious integration of the vegetation both indoors and outdoors.

“We are keenly aware of the potential that green regeneration has for cities. Essential to this is looking into new ways to redevelop existing urban areas in such a way that they can give something back to the city as a whole, that they reactivate and enliven the spaces and areas that have become obsolete over the years. Designing to strengthen and support communities is all about creating places that bring people together,” said Ben van Berkel, Founder and Principal Architect at UNStudio.

“I am so proud that we have the opportunity to create our first project in Romania right here, in Cluj. It is really exciting to see that we can connect this old industrial area to the more recent Armătura Park. We also want to bring the people on the Carbochim site back to the water, to continue the green belt along the river,” said Arjan Dingsté, Director and Senior Architect at UNStudio.

The largest entertainment & shopping destination in Romania: cultural and leisure concepts, and first-to-market brands

RIVUS is set to be the largest lifestyle center in Romania and a hub of the entertainment segment in the country. RIVUS Mall will accommodate long-anticipated international brands, flagship stores of major retailers in segments such as home&deco, health&sports, fashion and entertainment, as well as concepts by local producers and entrepreneurs. A space where every member of the local community belongs, with family-friendly uses, and a go-to destination for fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment, set to include 400+ stores.

RIVUS proposes first-to-market leisure solutions by means of the first auditorium integrated in a shopping center and a live arts center (RIVUS Live Arts) managed in partnership with the cultural community of Cluj, set to operate in the former arcade hall of Carbochim. Besides this, the red brick administrative building will also be preserved from the former industrial site, which is set to become RIVUS Hub, a venue combining office spaces and services.

The focus on families will be reflected in the fitting out of playground areas, first-to-market entertainment concepts, new cinema technologies and open air cinema, educational concepts, sport and wellness facilities, as well as a multidisciplinary medical hub.

The project will provide a platform for promoting local producers and the destination where gastronomy blends harmoniously with the vibrant atmosphere, including a Fresh Market concept and 30 concept-locations, themed restaurants and coffee shops, with terraces located in the new garden built from scratch.

The development proposes approx. 15,000 sqm GLA of premium office premises, that will help consolidate the local operations of some multinational companies and generate professional development opportunities.

RIVUS Garden helps create a 14 hectares green connection in the north of Cluj

RIVUS Garden will be the green anchor of the project, in the form of a 52,000 sqm park in the hearth of the city, designed by foreign and local landscape architects, and adding to the already upgraded Armătura Park and Feroviarilor Park located nearby. Together they will delineate Someș River with approximately 14 hectares of landscaped green spaces, as well as promenade and leisure infrastructure.

RIVUS Garden will be embellished by 700+ mature trees, that are up to 60 years old and standing at heights up to 13 meters, including trees that were salvaged from the former industrial platform, as well as 100,000+ decorative plants of various sizes. The main retail building will be fitted with green façades and a green roof set to integrate Japanese garden.

As with its other similar projects developed in Iași and Timișoara, IULIUS is focused on the solid connectivity with the city, and has thus undertaken consistent infrastructure investments under an agreement with the Municipality. These will include the creation of a new road bridge across Someș River, two pedestrian bridges, traffic coordination solutions, upgrading some nearby streets, as well as fitting out bicycle infrastructure, in line with the authorities’ mobility strategy. The project will also include approx. 4,800 underground and aboveground parking spaces, 900 of which will be fitted with EV charging connectors, as well as 2,500 bicycle parking spaces.

The investment will be made by companies IULIUS and Atterbury Europe. The project is currently in the building permitting phase. The first phase of the works, namely the dismantling of the former industrial facilities, is nearing completion, as this endeavor is independent of the approval and permitting process for the new project.

About IULIUS

IULIUS Company is a real estate developer and operator specialized in mixed-use urban regeneration projects in Romania, with 25-plus years of experience. The company portfolio comprises more than 310,000 sqm of retail premises in two mixed-use urban regeneration projects (Palas Iași and Iulius Town Timișoara), the nationwide network of regional shopping malls (Iulius Mall – Iași, Cluj-Napoca, and Suceava), and the Family Market projects in Iași (Miroslava and Bucium). The shopping centers are regional market leaders and draw more than 70 mil. visits every year. IULIUS Company has 15 office buildings in Iași, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara, with a total area upwards of 242,000 sqm, accommodating more than 80 companies and 27,000-plus employees.