The latest urban regeneration and reconversion 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 a key-component of the project, namely its proximity to Somes River.
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 and 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+ new 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
- 15,000 sqm GLA premium green office facilities
- Investments in connectivity and alternative mobility
“Our proposal for the former Carbochim platform has a strong natural component, which consists in developing the Somes 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,” said Sorin Guttman, Manager of RIVUS.
RIVUS Cluj-Napoca, the first project implemented by UNStudio in Romania
The project brings for the first time in Romania the renowned Dutch architects from UNStudio, who have in their portfolio flagship projects around 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.
“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
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.
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, transforming it into 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 includes a Fresh Market concept and 30 concept locations, themed restaurants, and cafes with terraces located in the newly landscaped garden from scratch.
The development proposes office facilities of approx. 15,000 sqm GLA.
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 heart 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.
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.