3rd General Assembly: Demonstrators in Focus in Bucharest

📍 Bucharest, 29–30 October 2024

The third General Assembly of the MULTICARE project, hosted in Bucharest, marked an important step forward as demonstration activities expanded across multiple sites. A particular highlight was the in-depth review of the Bucharest Demonstrator, where the retrofit plan involves the use of an LVL (laminated veneer lumber) exoskeleton to improve the seismic class of a multi-storey residential building.

Participants discussed the technical documentation already prepared, which includes seismic analysis, a preliminary energy audit, and architectural designs. The proposed intervention is expected to improve structural safety while lowering heating loads by approximately 30%. The project team also outlined the upcoming administrative steps: approval of the feasibility study, permitting, and public tender procedures. Budget planning remains an active issue, with efforts ongoing to secure full funding for implementation.

Elsewhere, the Amsterdam Demonstrator has transitioned to a new site on Maria Austriastraat, involving a short-stay building made of concrete and steel. The focus here is on façade innovation and long-term monitoring of environmental and thermal conditions.

In Tecuci, a detailed 3D model of the building stock has been created, seismic sensors installed, and hydrological models updated for flood risk analysis. These tools will be integrated into WP21 for advanced simulation and response planning.

Throughout the GA, presentations from WP22 and WP23 highlighted how feedback from these real-world pilots will be used to test and refine MULTICARE’s tools. Partners also discussed the setup of early warning systems, IoT architecture, and citizen engagement methods, as well as interoperability between digital models and construction planning.

The event confirmed that the success of MULTICARE depends on its ability to deliver results that are both technically sound and tailored to the realities of each urban and social environment.