The Rise and Fall of the Romanian “Steel Fortresses” and the Case of Hunedoara, 1949-1999. Built and Environmental Legacies of Socialist Industrialisation

In the newly formed Eastern Bloc, the “Need for Steel” became a tool in strengthening the political and ideologic foundation of the socialist system, with all its national declinations in which the centralised Soviet model of territorial governance played a major role in building new “steel identities”. One such industrial place is Hunedoara in Romania. Located in southwest Transylvania, Hunedoara presented a steel industry since the late 19th century. Still, it was entirely transformed into a national-level symbol of socialist development, becoming the first “Steel Fortress” during 1949-1959 and arriving at its industrial and territorial peak during the mid-1970s. The book follows the case of Hunedoara, the experimentation, development, and implementation of a completely new planning model of the industrial architecture, sites, mono-industrial towns, and territories in socialist Romania. It looks at how the “Hunedoara model” appeared applied at the national level, triggering the consolidation of a steel constellation composed of new “Steel Fortresses” and a variety of new industrial settlements. The book intends to bring new insights into how industrial architecture was approached during communism in Romania, and how it was designed, built, and transformed following its destiny during the post-1989 deindustrialisation that marked the site’s almost complete disappearance. The book provides valuable insights into the architectural profession in communist Romania and its lasting impact, particularly within the realm of industrial architecture. It highlights the era's innovations in design, construction materials, techniques, and the broader national territorial impact while constantly looking to the overall international political and economic setting. In a context where these sites are rapidly disappearing along with the local memory, the book is both timely and unique in the Central-Eastern European landscape. It contributes to the ongoing debate about how future economic, social, and cultural development can be rooted in the recognition of local resources—embodied in the built environment, community, and landscape. This is especially relevant in places like Hunedoara, where the local community is still shaped by steelworkers and their descendants, whose collective memory remains deeply influenced by the region’s industrial past. The research was made possible through the consultation and analysis of previously unpublished archival documents, preserved from the risk of disappearance by local communities. It was further supported by extensive site visits accompanied by comprehensive photographic documentation, and intensive bibliographical research. Additionally, the study benefitted from numerous discussions with members of the "steel communities" and professionals involved in the planning of industrial architecture during the communist era in Romania.