Diploma Thesis Development
The completion of studies at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism within Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara is achieved through a diploma examination structured into two complementary components, theoretical and applied in nature.
Part I consists of the defense of a theoretical dissertation and a preliminary research study (pre-diploma), which establishes the conceptual foundation of the final project. The dissertation is developed within one of three academic units:
Complex Architecture
Heritage Development and Reuse
Urban Planning
Part II involves the public defense of the diploma project, presented through written and graphic documentation demonstrating the candidate’s ability to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge in the coherent resolution of an architectural or urban issue.
The topic may be selected from those proposed within the thematic unit or formulated by the candidate in consultation with the academic supervisor.
The final assessment considers the rigor of the research process, theoretical grounding, conceptual coherence, interdisciplinary dimension, and the overall architectural quality of the proposed solution.
For the full texts please click on the pages of the brochure below.
Complex Architecture
Student: Lac Alexandra
Coordinating Professor: S.l. Dr. Arch. Daniela Negrișanu
The proposed concept illustrates the impact of architecture in the context of memory loss, highlighting its ability to mediate the disconnection between perception and meaning. These aspects analyze the shaping of identity through anamnesis, stimulated by architectural experiences and evoked reminiscences, as well as the mechanisms of perception, which involve the use of the senses for a deep exploration of architecture. The center, beyond being a treatment space, becomes an active factor in the therapeutic process, which, although it will not solve the issue of cognitive decline, will optimize the patients’ quality of life through the built environment’s capacity to generate interactions that reflect the essence of their identity.
Student: Lușcă Maria Claudia
Coordinating Professor: Arch. Adam Romi
The architectural language is shaped by the psychological profile and needs of a person who has experienced trauma, drawing on the principles of healing architecture. Trauma fragments the mind into “before” and “after” episodes, often dominated by fear and pain. In this context, architecture becomes a therapeutic support in the healing process, addressing behavioral, physical, emotional, and cognitive impacts. Healing architecture leverages the power of the built environment to influence psychological well-being. For domestic violence victims, spaces must promote safety, calm, and identity restoration. Environmental factors—light, natural materials, colors, and spatial organization—directly affect stress levels and the recovery process. Beyond visual perception, the multisensory experience of space (texture, smell, sound, shadow) fosters a sense of belonging. Thus, the building becomes more than a shelter—it becomes a space of healing and hope.
Students: Găleșanu Eduard, Hotea Timotei, Pașca Georgiana
Coordinating Professor: Conf. Dr. Arch. Cristian Blidariu
MEKA – Museum of Ecological Knowledge and Awareness transforms the Mecatim industrial platform in Timișoara into a mixed ensemble: plastic recycling factory, research institute, and museum dedicated to the material plastic.
Addressing the post-industrial waste crisis, the project redefines the ruin as active public infrastructure. The existing metal structure is complemented by prefabricated modules made of recycled plastic and local soil, configuring a hybrid system with a reduced footprint.
The continuous flow—collection, extrusion, 3D printing, exhibition—becomes an open didactic stage for the public. Intermediate spaces, a circular walkway, and vegetated courtyards filtered by translucent façades mediate the relationship between technological process and city, cultivating community engagement. Plastic, simultaneously raw material and architectural expression, is revalorized through architecture, with recycling becoming a founding cultural act.
Student: Maxim Silvia-Elena
Coordinating Professor: S.l. Dr. Arch. Claudiu Toma
At the edge of Timișoara, in the Fratelia neighborhood, time seems to have forgotten to move forward. The small houses, with gabled roofs and walls made of solid brick or adobe, tell stories of simplicity, calm, and community. On these quiet streets, life flows slowly: people chatting at their gates, benches that listen to thoughts, windows that open toward the world. The Brick Bond project was born from the desire to preserve this identity and transform it into a foundation for the future. Inspired by the habits and daily gestures of the locals, the project reinterprets the street as a protected indoor space — a playground for children and a space of reconnection for the community. Here, details become symbols: a bench, a window, a door — all reimagined in the spirit of a quiet, shared life. The rotated volume is built on the footprint of the former cultural center, as a gesture of respect for the past and an act of reviving collective memory. Made of perforated metal, it expresses the community’s delicacy, transparency, and sensitivity. Surrounding it, a brick wall embraces it — like a protective shell that binds the new to the old. Brick Bond is about connections — between people, between past and present, between tradition and future. It is a gesture of reconnecting with local memory, an invitation to play, to dialogue, and to come together.
Heritage Development and Reuse
Student: Avram Casian Alexandru
Coordinating Professor: Conf. Dr. Arch. Gabriela Domokos-Pașcu
The mosaic complex in Fabric consists of the Neolog synagogue, the prayer house, and the former Israelite care center for the elderly. Over time, the surrounding area has been altered by the appearance of industrial sites, office buildings, medical offices, and multiple private parking lots. Within the project of converting the mosaic complex into a research center with a museum program and the cross-border headquarters of The Art Nouveau European Route, the reconnection of the 3 buildings was carried out and their correlation with the nearby public space, as well as with the 2 courtyards of the mosaic complex. At the conceptual level of the arrangement, the aim was to extend Parcul Regina Maria beyond the fence line, in fact reclaiming an area called Vorpark which was integrated into the park until the end of the 19th century, until it was parceled and built upon. To ensure the physical connection between the 3 buildings, a glass-structured pavilion was inserted, around which a drainage channel was placed. At the functional level, the synagogue accommodates musical and theater performances, conferences, as well as temporary exhibitions within the complex. The prayer house accommodates permanent exhibitions, a conference or presentation room, and a space dedicated to interactive activities with the community. The 2 aforementioned buildings have public functions, while the Coșariu house is a research center (semi-private).
Student: Petrica Anca Ștefania
Coordinating Professor: S.l. Dr. Arch. Maja Bâldea
The project addresses the noble ensemble of Petala Castle in the village of Clopodia, Timiș County, focusing on the revitalization of the castle, its annexes, and the dendrological park. The region has a rich history and has been inhabited by various ethnic groups who have shaped the area and its characteristics to this day. Revitalizing the ensemble has the potential to attract tourism to the area, strengthen the inhabitants’ sense of place, and serve as a catalyst for similar initiatives across the Banat region. The proposal includes multiple stages of development, ranging from the addition of a traditional restaurant to on-site accommodation. These new interventions are carefully integrated into the landscape and create a dialogue with the existing buildings.
Urban Planning
Student: Costică Bogdan Andrei
Coordinating Professor: Conf. Dr. Arch. Marius Găman
The project proposes a strategic intervention in the area of the former Disciplinary Battalion in Caracal, aiming to regenerate a neglected urban periphery affected by social, economic, and infrastructural challenges. The city faces issues such as rural migration, rising housing costs, poor transport infrastructure, and limited access to essential services and green spaces. The project introduces an urban expansion model based on food urbanism and co-housing, promoting urban agriculture as a tool for food self-sufficiency, economic resilience, and community revitalization. Various urban agriculture typologies are integrated (educational gardens, therapeutic spaces, greenhouses, orchards, etc.) managed by private producers, cooperatives, youth, or volunteers, depending on context. In terms of housing, the proposal includes four main typologies: collective and semi-collective units in the central area, row houses at the northern edge as a transition, individual homes near productive zones in the south, and commercial-service areas at the entrance. Each typology supports diverse social needs and fosters active, cohesive communities.
Student: Olar-Nicola Dragoș
Coordinating Professor: Conf. Dr. Arch. Marius Găman
The project focuses on transforming a key block in the Freidorf area of Timișoara into a model of sustainable urban development. It applies theoretical concepts such as New Urbanism, Urban Densification, and Acupuncture to address the challenges faced by the neighborhood, including urban fragmentation and inadequate infrastructure. The proposed interventions aim to improve connectivity, diversify land use, and enhance the neighborhood’s identity. Key aspects include the construction of new educational and medical facilities, of public spaces that encourage social interaction, and the development of a pedestrian-friendly street network. The project also emphasizes the importance of increasing residential density without compromising the quality of life. By introducing new green spaces and optimizing the area’s infrastructure, the project seeks to revitalize Freidorf, making it a vibrant and self-sufficient community. Overall, this kind of urban development not only addresses the immediate needs of the community but also serves as a potential model for the development of other areas in Timișoara. The anticipated result is a more cohesive and sustainable urban environment that enhances the quality of life.
Student: Restivan Francesca Tiziana
Coordinating Professor: Conf. Dr. Arch. Mirela Szitar-Sârbu
The project proposes the transformation of the former TEBA industrial site into a vibrant urban complex with mixed functions adapted to the current needs of the city of Arad. Located on the banks of the Mureș River, close to the city center, the site benefits from a strategic position but is marked by the degradation typical of abandoned industrial areas. The intervention aims to valorize the existing industrial heritage through sustainable functional conversions, complemented by new residential buildings, commercial spaces, cultural, educational, and social facilities. Public spaces play a key role in shaping the ensemble, with urban squares, community gardens, themed playgrounds, and a riverside promenade being proposed. By integrating sustainable mobility principles and reconnecting the site to the urban fabric, the project seeks to create a dynamic urban hub that supports social cohesion, functional diversity, and the preservation of the site’s memory within a contemporary urban framework.