Ene+Ene Arhitectura

2026 / Competition / Headquarters of the North-West Regional Development Agency, Cluj-Napoca

Location: Cluj, Romania
Project Status: Competition
Architecture: E+EA – Mihai Ene, Adela Ene
Structure: Inginerie Creativă
Client: North-West Regional Development Agency
Surface: 7500 sqm.
Period: 2026
Renders: E+EA

URBAN CONTEXT AND SITE INSERTION
Integrating the new headquarters of the North-West Regional Development Agency into the proposed site is, without a doubt, a challenge, particularly from an urban perspective. The architectural approach is hindered by the dysfunctionality of the public space and the stylistic incoherence of the existing architecture. Thus, the new proposal attempts to counterbalance the future headquarters of the Cluj County Council (which is much more massive than the current one) by positioning itself within a site with insufficient street frontage. Among the adopted strategies are limiting the footprint of the proposed building and attempting to mediate between the heights of the two neighbouring buildings.
The volume steps back from the property line, clearing the street front and thereby announcing the library building. Concurrently, the proposal aims to activate the site’s level difference through a direct pedestrian connection between the two urban terraces.

FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION
From a functional standpoint, the building is organized according to the competition brief requirements, integrating the three main spatial cores.
Basement 2 houses the necessary technical spaces, as well as the civil defence shelter (ALA). During peacetime, the shelter is organized as a parking facility for 63 bicycles (accessible directly from the ground floor via a dedicated elevator), alongside an archive storage room. To meet BREEAM standards, changing rooms equipped with showers and restrooms are provided adjacent to the bicycle parking.
Basement 1 is reserved exclusively for car parking, accommodating 55 vehicles. It is accessible from the street level via a ramp dimensioned for two-way traffic. To restrict the floor area, we proposed a Klaus stacked parking system. Consequently, the footprint of both basements falls within the buildable limits of the site.
The Ground Floor reflects the intention to dedicate this level to public interaction. The conference hall is the main space of this level and establishes a direct visual connection with the street. It has the capacity to be partitioned into 3 modules using sound-insulating curtains. Controlled access is provided through a lobby/foyer directly linked to a portico that marks the entrance to the building. Towards the southern side, in direct relation to the green slope and a landscaped outdoor terrace, the conference area sits adjacent to the dining hall for the institution’s employees.
Floors 1 to 6 integrate the office core in a logical sequence, respecting the requirements of the four distinct departments, each laid out on a single floor. The offices have been designed as a mix of open-space and individual offices, according to the institution’s organizational chart. Indoor relaxation areas, as well as outdoor loggias or terraces for smoking, are provided on each floor.
The 7th Floor, the top level, is reserved for the Management department, where the Director General and the Deputy Directors benefit from panoramic views and more generous spaces.
The Roof Terrace – one third of the accessible, uncovered terrace is landscaped as a relaxation space for all employees and is reachable via the vertical circulation core. The technical terrace occupies the remaining surface and houses the HVAC equipment, which is visually screened from the surroundings by an elevated parapet.

PUBLIC SPACE AND GREEN AREA LANDSCAPING
Two major directions formed the basis of the outdoor landscaping concept.
The area in front of the building, adjacent to the street, becomes a mineral public space, enlivened by the presence of small vegetation islands and urban furniture elements. We opted for paving made of two types of natural stone that echo the building’s structure. The vegetation consists of low-maintenance local species, arranged both horizontally and vertically to reduce the heat island effect, directly contributing to the complex’s sustainability strategy.
We envisioned transforming the southern slope—currently isolated and underutilized—into a sloping garden accessible to the public via an outdoor staircase. We propose a pedestrian path that winds up the hillside, integrating ramps and steps that fluidly connect the “upper city” (Episcop Nicolae Ivan Street) with Mărăști Square, reactivating a necessary urban connection.

SUSTAINABILITY
The proposed volumetric design optimizes the ratio between the building envelope and the built volume, reducing energy loss and ensuring efficient passive behavior. The facade integrates both fixed and dynamic shading systems (retractable outdoor sunshades on the sunny South and West sides) using durable materials, which contribute to reducing the energy consumption required for cooling.
The solution is calibrated to achieve the nZEB (nearly Zero-Energy Building) standard and to facilitate the BREEAM certification process, aiming for a high score in the Health and Wellbeing, Energy, and Management categories.
The indoor environment emphasizes the quality of the workspace as a central element of social sustainability. The layout plan maximizes natural light intake for workstations, while the facade system controls glare and overheating, eliminating any “back of the building” effect through the careful treatment of all facades.