Parallel Universes. Exploring Potential Resurrections of a Factory

This study examines the adaptive reuse potential of the Frumoasa Workshops, a 19th century industrial complex in Iași, Romania. Once spanning 10 hectares, the built area has been reduced to just two buildings totaling 2,000 square meters. Through typological and morphological analysis of intermediary spaces in post-industrial contexts, we develop four original conversion strategies—Submersion, Inversion, Expansion, and Suspension—that demonstrate how minimal intervention can facilitate the transition from industrial enclosure to public space. The concept of urban engawa, adapted from Japanese transitional spaces, offers a framework for mediating between heritage preservation and contemporary urban needs while addressing the social impacts of post-1989 deindustrialization. Our findings highlight the potential of these buildings to become cultural and social landmarks through context-sensitive interventions.