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Reactivation of the Neptune Baths

The reactivation of the Neptune Baths historical monument building involves an extensive restoration and reconversion project, developed through a cross-cutting multidisciplinary approach between various specialisms such as architecture, restoration, structure design, tourism, culture and art, as well as spa tourism. The project is built taking into account both the needs of the Herculane Baths resort town and its local community, as well as the temporary community, namely the tourists. The project supports and promotes the concept of participatory governance. The reactivation of Neptune Baths takes into consideration two types of approaches: a bottom-up one by involving the general public and volunteers in the project development, and a top-down approach, by involving specialists from various integrated specialisms. The innovative nature of the project is defined by the integration of the principle of participatory governance alongside the European values ​​of sustainable heritage development, under the tutelage of a group of young architects.

Reactivation of the Neptune Baths

The reactivation of the Neptune Baths historical monument building involves an extensive restoration and reconversion project, developed through a cross-cutting multidisciplinary approach between various specialisms such as architecture, restoration, structure design, tourism, culture and art, as well as spa tourism. The project is built taking into account both the needs of the Herculane Baths resort town and its local community, as well as the temporary community, namely the tourists. The project supports and promotes the concept of participatory governance. The reactivation of Neptune Baths takes into consideration two types of approaches: a bottom-up one by involving the general public and volunteers in the project development, and a top-down approach, by involving specialists from various integrated specialisms. The innovative nature of the project is defined by the integration of the principle of participatory governance alongside the European values ​​of sustainable heritage development, under the tutelage of a group of young architects.

THE NEW STAGE OF RESCUE AND CONSERVATION OF NEPTUNE BATHS
DISCOVER THE BUILDING’S HISTORY

Project stages

The project is segmented into a series of stages, strategically defined taking into account the legal situation of the building, as well as the European concepts of sustainable development of cultural heritage. The first stage of the project to reactivate the Neptune Baths Architectural Ensemble is the urgent intervention, which aims to stop the degradation and remove the public danger label of the building ensemble.

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Phase I

The urgent intervention aimed at securing the historic Neptune Baths monument building:

  • Support works to the elements in a stage of collapse
  • Roofing work – replacement of the punctured metal sheet or
  • Replacement of gutters and downspouts
  • Support works to the vaults and ceilings
  • Works at the roof framing level – replacement of degraded elements and support works for critical areas
  • Protection of the ornamental elements – statues and majolica fountain
  • Sanitation of the building
  • Perimeter closures to stop access

We want to highlight the fact that all the works are reversible and do not affect the historical character of the building. The cost of the works for ensuring the ensemble is safe is €100,000.

The project was developed between November 2017 and April 2018, and was aimed at removing the public danger label, which the building currently has due to its major structural degradation.

We also want to highlight the fact that the technical project and the economic estimate were developed approximately a year before the collapse of a sector of the building. As such the up to date required interventions taking into consideration the current state of the building are expected to be greater.

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Phase II

The emergency intervention project was divided into two stages, depending on the amounts raised from donations by the Association. So, in 2019 we executed a part of the proposed project,and later in the period 2020 – 2022 we performed maintenance works. In 2022, we executed a wood scaffolding structure along the entire length of the Neptune Baths facade, as Izvorului Street will be open to car traffic.

In 2021 and 2022 we conducted a series of site visits with engineers and experts, who assessed the condition of the building, and the final finding was that at least three sectors of the building are severely damaged structurally and pre-collapse. What does this mean? It means the Neptune Baths are on the verge of collapse.

This has led us to change our strategy.

Now the main focus is:
1. Unbinding and restoration of the three roof wood structures and consolidation of masonry in the three structurally damaged sectors;
2. Attracting both national and international sponsors;
3. Development of a campaign to promote the subject at international level;
4. The recruitment of renowned experts in the field of restoration, of some craftsmen, is one of the top execution companies in the project.
Integration of an expert advisory board into the project.

The worst severely affected areas are
Sector A
Sector C
Sector I

The cost of these works, at a first estimate, is 15-20,000 euros / sector.
The total is 60,000 euro.

Before & after:

First stage of the emergency intervention

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Information & timeline

The technical project was developed by a team of specialists and volunteers on behalf of the Locus Association and based on a Collaboration Protocol with Herculane Baths City Hall. Collaboration Protocol with registration number 8779 of 04.04.2018 between U.A.T. HERCULANE BATHS CITY and the LOCUS ASSOCIATION, concluded based on HCL no. 24 / 27.03.2018, in accordance with the legal provisions of art. 36, paragraph 7, letter A of Law 215/2001, which has as object the security, rehabilitation and enhancement of the building – Neptune Baths – property of the Territorial Administrative Unit (U.A.T.), included in CF 30374 Herculane Baths, under no. Top 49 / B and cad number 30374-C1.

The technical project was sent by the local administration for approval to the Caras-Severin County Directorate for Culture, which supports the steps we are taking to save the building, and which have issued a favourable notice of the project.

On 08.11.2019, the Locus Association signed the Additional Act No. 1, Annex to HCL No. 68 / 08.11.2019. The object of the additional act is the sponsorship of the U.A.T. CITY OF HERCULANE BATHS by the Association. The estimated value of the works in the first stage is 58,000€.

  • July 2017

    The first meeting with Herculane Baths City Hall.

  • August 2017

    Writing up the Technical Note Assessment on the state of Neptune Baths.

  • September 2017

    Preparing the Neptune Baths: Whereto? Event.

  • October 2017

    Neptune Baths: Whereto? Event takes place and obtaining the verbal agreement of the two Neptune Baths land owners. The agreement was necessary in order to be able to issue the emergency building permit by Herculane Baths City Hall.

  • November 2017 - March 2018

    Development of the urgent intervention technical project for securing the Neptune Baths building and for removal of the public danger label. At the same time, discussions took place with the two private owners to obtain their agreement to perform works.

  • March 2018

    Launching the fundraising campaign for the works.

  • April 2018

    Delivery of the technical intervention project, the specifications and the preliminary technical expertise that have formed the basis for developing the proposals.

  • June 2018

    Herculane Baths City Hall decides to start the procedures for accessing a loan for this work. The necessary funds amount to 100,000€. The loan was rejected.

  • Summer 2018

    Obtaining the written refusal of the two private landowners.

  • September 2018

    Commencing the procedure for acquiring the right to use the land by Herculane Baths City Hall. Currently the process has been stopped.

  • February 2019

    The collapse of a sector of the Neptune Bath and the issuance of the emergency building permit by Herculane Baths City Hall.

  • April 2019

    Launch of the fundraising campaign to start the securing works of the Neptune Baths.

  • May 2019

    40,000€ donated for the first step of reactivating the Baths.

  • June 2019 - September 2019

    Negotiations with Herculane Baths City Hall on how to start the construction site.

  • September 2019

    Dedeman sponsors the project with the amount of 18,000€. 58,000€ donated in total for the urgent intervention.

  • Octomber 2019

    Agreement with Herculane Baths City Hall regarding the start of the construction site.

  • November 2019

    Signing the Additional Act, Urgent Intervention.

  • August 2020

    Intervention on the façade of the Neptune Baths within the Architecture Bath ISummer School Edition II summer school

  • September 2020

    Fundraising campaign via SMS "I Am Herculane"

  • March 2020

    Over 5000 SMS sent for Neptune Baths

  • April 2021

    Neptune Baths marketing project together with LightsOn Romania

  • July 2021

    Working visit with engineers and the team of architects to establish the intervention areas Stage II

  • September 2021

    Neptune Baths Conservation Interventions within the Architecture Bath Summer School Edition IV

  • December 2021

    Registration of Neptune Baths on the short list of the European program "7 Most Endangered" organized by Europa Nostra and the European Commission

Information & timeline

The technical project was developed by a team of specialists and volunteers on behalf of the Locus Association and based on a Collaboration Protocol with Herculane Baths City Hall. Collaboration Protocol with registration number 8779 of 04.04.2018 between U.A.T. HERCULANE BATHS CITY and the LOCUS ASSOCIATION, concluded based on HCL no. 24 / 27.03.2018, in accordance with the legal provisions of art. 36, paragraph 7, letter A of Law 215/2001, which has as object the security, rehabilitation and enhancement of the building – Neptune Baths – property of the Territorial Administrative Unit (U.A.T.), included in CF 30374 Herculane Baths, under no. Top 49 / B and cad number 30374-C1.

The technical project was sent by the local administration for approval to the Caras-Severin County Directorate for Culture, which supports the steps we are taking to save the building, and which have issued a favourable notice of the project.

On 08.11.2019, the Locus Association signed the Additional Act No. 1, Annex to HCL No. 68 / 08.11.2019. The object of the additional act is the sponsorship of the U.A.T. CITY OF HERCULANE BATHS by the Association. The estimated value of the works in the first stage is 58,000€.

The Neptune Baths property contains an area of ​​2,900 m³ of land listed in the land book no. 30374 Herculane Baths, cadastre no. 30374, and the historical monument with a built area of ​​2,75 m³ with cadastre no. 30374-C1.

The real estate was purchased by the couple Verbițchi Valeriu and Verbițchi Alexandrina in 2009 from the company Hercules S.A. Subsequently, only the building was transferred to Herculane Baths City (the owner erroneously mentioned in the CF being the Local Council, while the real owner being the U.A.T.) based on the exchange contract no. 2754/2012.

Several legal sequesters regarding the property are noted in the land book.

Two of the sequesters, those of a criminal nature, concern only the land. The other two seizures, which * appear to have been instituted in a forced execution, concern both the land and the building. The establishment of civil sequesters on the building is most likely an error, these being subsequent to the moment of the transfer of the building to the municipality. We have not obtained any other information regarding the civil sequesters.

Regarding the legal sequesters:

– The first one is related to a dispute that has been resolved in the penal trial, while the civil trial is in the appeal phase and it is still ongoing, having the next deadline 14 May 2020.
– The second one concerns a trial that is still in the prosecution phase, so we estimate that it will take a longer time until it is completed.

*We do not have access to all documents regarding the legal status of the property.

The property private owners have not given their consent for the Neptune Baths to be put in use, and the sequesters prevent us from applying for a European/national financing programme, thus the only type of work we can do at the moment is to secure and remove the public danger label.
We aim to secure the building from a legal point of view, in order to be able to develop an integrated long-term strategy regarding the refurbishment of the house.

The execution of the safety works has been done under the technical project No. 17068/2017, and was split into two stages, dependent on the donations and sponsorships collected by the Association.

The first stage was executed in November 2019 and was successfully completed.

What have we achieved so far? During the first stage of securing the building we intervened in 12 areas at the roof level, we sanitised the building – 220 m³ of debris and garbage were removed from the inside (over 70 trucks), we protected the majolica fountain, we blocked the access to the building, we supported two roof framings and four floors , we cleaned the outdoor terraces, the roof, the pipes and gutters, from moss and rubble. All the constructive and ornamental elements on the verge of collapse, representing a public danger, were stored inside the building, and all elements already collapsed were palletised and stored inside. All these works are reversible and temporary, and aim to stop the degradation produced by infiltrations of meteoric water, by collapses of unstable elements and unfortunately, and by those made by human hands – theft, breaking of ornamental elements.

  • July 2017

    The first meeting with Herculane Baths City Hall.

  • August 2017

    Writing up the Technical Note Assessment on the state of Neptune Baths.

  • September 2017

    Preparing the Neptune Baths: Whereto? Event.

  • October 2017

    Neptune Baths: Whereto? Event takes place and obtaining the verbal agreement of the two Neptune Baths land owners. The agreement was necessary in order to be able to issue the emergency building permit by Herculane Baths City Hall.

  • November 2017 - March 2018

    Development of the urgent intervention technical project for securing the Neptune Baths building and for removal of the public danger label. At the same time, discussions took place with the two private owners to obtain their agreement to perform works.

  • March 2018

    Launching the fundraising campaign for the works.

  • April 2018

    Delivery of the technical intervention project, the specifications and the preliminary technical expertise that have formed the basis for developing the proposals.

  • June 2018

    Herculane Baths City Hall decides to start the procedures for accessing a loan for this work. The necessary funds amount to 100,000€. The loan was rejected.

  • Summer 2018

    Obtaining the written refusal of the two private landowners.

  • September 2018

    Commencing the procedure for acquiring the right to use the land by Herculane Baths City Hall. Currently the process has been stopped.

  • February 2019

    The collapse of a sector of the Neptune Bath and the issuance of the emergency building permit by Herculane Baths City Hall.

  • April 2019

    Launch of the fundraising campaign to start the securing works of the Neptune Baths.

  • May 2019

    40,000€ donated for the first step of reactivating the Baths.

  • June 2019 - September 2019

    Negotiations with Herculane Baths City Hall on how to start the construction site.

  • September 2019

    Dedeman sponsors the project with the amount of 18,000€. 58,000€ donated in total for the urgent intervention.

  • Octomber 2019

    Agreement with Herculane Baths City Hall regarding the start of the construction site.

  • November 2019

    Signing the Additional Act, Urgent Intervention.

  • August 2020

    Intervention on the façade of the Neptune Baths within the Architecture Bath ISummer School Edition II summer school

  • September 2020

    Fundraising campaign via SMS "I Am Herculane"

  • March 2020

    Over 5000 SMS sent for Neptune Baths

  • April 2021

    Neptune Baths marketing project together with LightsOn Romania

  • July 2021

    Working visit with engineers and the team of architects to establish the intervention areas Stage II

  • September 2021

    Neptune Baths Conservation Interventions within the Architecture Bath Summer School Edition IV

  • December 2021

    Registration of Neptune Baths on the short list of the European program "7 Most Endangered" organized by Europa Nostra and the European Commission

Locus Association

contact@herculaneproject.ro
Bd. Take Ionescu nr. 50 – 52, Complex ISHO, building A,
ground floor, Timișoara, Timiș, 300043

Cont RON: RO87BTRLRONCRT0421032702
Cont EUR: RO64BTRLEURCRT0421032701

Asociația Locus

contact@herculaneproject.ro/en
Bd. Take Ionescu nr. 50 – 52,
Complex ISHO, building A, ground floor,
Timișoara, Timiș, 300043

Bank account (RON): RO87BTRLRONCRT0421032702
Bank account (EUR): RO64BTRLEURCRT0421032701