Zorileanu Villa, a historic building over 100 years old located in the center of the Central Park in the Băile Govora resort, is set to be transformed into a modern medical recovery and wellness center. The project aims to turn the building into a benchmark for best practices for other balneary resorts in Romania. It is funded by European funds and promises to save built heritage from demolition. [1]
The building, known to locals and tourists from the communist era as Hotelul Statului No. 3, dates back to 1889 and was designed by architect Dimitrie Maimarolu. It underwent complete remodeling in the 1960s after a fire and has been unused since the early 2000s. The initiative for refunctionalization is led by Studiogovora and the property owners, who obtained funding from the South-West Oltenia Regional Development Agency under the Regional Operational Programme 2021-2027, conditional on minimizing structural interventions to preserve the specific architecture. [1]
Architect Radu Tîrcă, representative of the architecture studio, explained that their association fights for the utilization of heritage not only as a static structure but also as an economic resource. «The question is what you do with it next... how much you can then earn. We are talking not only about historic monuments but also about abandoned buildings, which do not always have to be demolished», Tîrcă stated. He believes this project can serve as a best practice model to inspire other beneficiaries to access European funds for maintaining historic buildings. [1]
Violeta Nițescu, manager of the largest tourism operator in the resort and owner of the building, presented the vision for the new space: a longevity clinic that combines historic natural treatments with modern technology. «It will be a clinic, a suitable mix between natural healing factors... such as air therapy, inhalations, and sprays with mineral water that has a unique formula in south-western Europe containing bromine, iodine, sulfur, and 12 integrated minerals – equipped with modern apparatus», Nițescu described. The project includes a unique physiotherapy hall in Vâlcea County, focused on the concept of longevity and healthy living. [1]
Renovation works at Zorileanu Villa began in September 2024. The deadline for completing the investment and officially opening the Zorileanu Clinic is set for July 2027. [1]
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