Locus: Revitalizing Herculane Baths and Beyond

 

Locus Association is a dedicated non-governmental organization committed to preserving Romania's rich cultural and architectural heritage. By implementing innovative projects and engaging local communities, they are breathing new life into historic sites and fostering a deeper appreciation for the past. From rescuing iconic buildings to organizing cultural events, Locus is making a significant contribution to Romania's cultural landscape. 

Locus Association is a non-governmental organization that aims to save and promote the cultural, architectural, urban and natural heritage of Romania. The Association’s defining philosophy is that the national heritage, whether tangible or intangible, has the potential to become an engine of community reactivation and regeneration. The tools used are multidisciplinary and are aimed at obtaining strategies tailored on a case-by-case basis. The impact is intended to be two-fold. On one side it is intended to be material in nature, for example the rehabilitation of heritage objectives and increasing the well-being of the community. On the other side it is intended to be immaterial, such as coagulation of the social environment and the conservation of invisible heritage. 

Locus Association has a diverse team, from a professional background perspective (e.g. architecture students and graduates, economists, IT specialists, journalists, specialists in marketing and communication, collaborating artists, engineers, historians etc.), in terms of age (ranging between 18 years and pensioners/retirees) and as a geographical location (e.g. Timișoara, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, London, members of the local community from Herculane baths etc.). This reflects the fact that Herculane Baths are of interest to different categories of population, at the national level and even internationally.  

The Locus Association has a diverse composition and has developed cultural and educational projects both as a partner and as an organizer. Projects such as Cultural Baths Herculane or Heritage First Edition I co-financed by AFCN, the summer school Architecture Bath found at the 7th edition - co-financed by the Romanian Order of Architects have contributed to increasing the quality of cultural life in Băile Herculane and to the involvement of the community in the activities of the organization. Projects are strategically developed to have continuity and impact in the community. 

The Locus Association concluded a series of strategic partnerships in order to implement its projects with the following partners: Băile Herculane City Hall, the Caraș-Severin County Directorate for Culture, the National Heritage Institute, ISHO, the companies Dedeman, Linde Gaz, Ivatherm, Rothoblaas, Color Metal, MAPEI, Linde Gaz, Raiffeisen Bank, as well as sponsorships from entrepreneurs. In 2020 and 2021, the Locus Association undertook fundraising actions through 2 SMS campaigns, the involvement of over 20 companies, which contributed to the process of saving Neptune Baths and reached over 3,000,000 people in social media in 2023 The total number of platform donors has exceeded 15,000 people, and the number of volunteers has exceeded 200. 

Our projects fit into the city's development vision. Among the most important achievements are: 3 stages of the construction site successfully carried out to save the Neptune Baths, the saving of the only bookshop in the city with the help of the community and donors through a national campaign, 6 editions of the Architecture Bath and the organization of Heritage First!, the first biennial dedicated to cultural heritage in Romania. 

One of the biggest projects found currently under implementation is the revitalization of the Cerna riverbanks as a cultural and green artery of Herculane Baths, a project financed by Raiffeisen Bank through three packages of educational, community and ecological activities, aims to reconnect the local and transitory community with the banks of the Cerna River and the thermal springs, the research and conservation of the natural ecosystem and the proposal of alternative interventions , sustainable and reversible in terms of the regeneration of green spaces. We offer continuity to a project started by HerculaneProject in 2019, supported by the local community, the public and private sector, the impact being visible and quantifiable. This new stage transforms the historical area of La Càdițe (Thermal Pools) into a point of sustainable and creative development, the project's activities coagulating people, ideas and solutions for a sustainable future.

The Locus Association is a nationally awarded NGO, part of the European organization EUROPA NOSTRA. Last but not least, Neptune Baths were included in the 7 Most Endangered list for 2022 following the application written by the association. Locus Association is a member of the European organization ‘EUROPA NOSTRA’.