Short CV
Toader Popescu (b. 1980, Bucharest) is a B.A. in architecture, M.Sc. in urban planning and (since 2012) PhD in architecture. He is assistant professor within the History & Theory of Architecture and Heritage Conservation Department, “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, alumnus of New Europe College (NEC), practising architect and urban planner (at Point Zero, where he is founding partner since 2005), and researcher in the field of architectural and urban history. He is a member of the Romanian Academy Commission for the History of Romanian Cities. He is associate editor to the journal of sITA - studies in History and Theory of Architecture and member of the editorial board to the journal of Historia Urbana. He authored several books and many scientific articles, and co-authored translations of essential books. In 2014 he published The Romanian Railway Project (1842-1916), a volume distinguished with several awards, among which “Science Book of the Year” (2015), granted by the Association of Romanian Publishers.
Statement of research interests
- History of the city, urban history, history of urban planning
- History of architecture in Romania
- Modernism and modernity in architecture and urban planning
- Theory and practice of building in protected areas and in areas of historical value or relevance
- Railway history, history of infrastructure
Teaching activities
IT-7 – Architecture - Housing - Town (mandatory course, 2nd year, Faculty of Architecture)
IT-20 – History of Settlements in Europe (mandatory course, 1st year, Faculty of Architecture)
IT-40 – History of Settlements in Romania (optional course, 4th year, Faculty of Architecture)
IT-14 – Practical activities (documentation) (mandatory activity, 4th year, Faculty of Architecture)
CP-28 – Insertions in Protected Areas (optional project, 5th year, Faculty of Architecture)
Publications (selection)
Proiectul feroviar românesc (1842-1916) [The Romanian Railway Project (1842-1916)], Bucharest: Ed. Simetria, 2014: “Architecture Book of the Year” award, 2015, Order of Romanian Architects; “Science Book of the Year” award, 2015, Association of Romanian Publishers; “Architecture Publication” award, 2016, Romanian Biennale of Architecture
„Urbanism și serviciu public în România interbelică. Cincinat Sfințescu și activitatea sa în administrația bucureșteană” [Urban Planning and Public Service in Interwar Romania: Cincinat Sfințescu and His Practice Within the Municipality of Bucharest], in Servitorii Statului: Funcționari, funcții și funcționarism în România modernă (1830-1948) [Servants of the State in Modern Romania (1830-1948)], Cluj-Napoca: Ed. Mega, 2022
„Noi planuri rusești privitoare la orașul București și împrejurimile sale (1828, 1830, 1849–1850)” [New Russian Plans Regarding the City of Bucharest and its Surroundings (1828, 1830, 1849-1850)], in Historia Urbana, vol. XXIX, 2021 (co-author, with L. Rădvan and M. A. Ciobanu)
„Introduction: The Historicity of Modernism”, in sITA – studies in History and Theory of Architecture, vol. 7, 2019
„Planurile de sistematizare ale orașelor din România înainte de al Doilea Război Mondial” [Urban Systematization Plans for Romanian Cities before World War II], in Confluențe arhitecturale [Architectural Confluences], Bucharest: Ed. Ozalid, 2018
“On the Nation's Margins. Territorial and Urban Policies during the Romanian Administration of Southern Dobrudja (1913-1940)”, in sITA – studies in History and Theory of Architecture vol. 4/2016
Cincinat Sfințescu. Începuturile urbanismului românesc [Cincinat Sfințescu. The Beginnings of Romanian Urban Planning], Bucharest: Ed. Universitară „Ion Mincu”, 2015 (co-author, with A. Udrea, I. Calotă, I. Constantinescu)
“Introduction: Behind the Big Picture”, in sITA – studies in History and Theory of Architecture vol. 2/2014
“Gările tip în « stil C.F.R. ». Premise și clasificare tipo-morfologică” [Typified Railway Stations in the « C.F.R. Style ». Premises and Typo-morphological Classification], in Revista Monumentelor Istorice, 1-2/2011-2014
“Căile ferate și planificarea urbană în București (1869-1919)” [Railways and Urban Planning in Bucharest (1869-1919)], in Historia Urbana, vol. XXI/2013
“Un aller simple pour la modernité - L’urbanité roumaine sous le signe de la voie ferrée (1859-1918)”, in The New Europe College Yearbook, 2009-2010, 2012
La mémoire des murs – L’esprit français dans l’architecture roumaine, Bucharest: Ed. ICR, 2006 (co-author, with I. Popescu-Criveanu, A.M. Zahariade, M. Criticos e.a.)
Research (selection)
Co-author (screenplay, texts, presentation) of the documentary series "Built Romania" (Romanian Television, 10 episodes x 50 min.), 2020
Project team member (scientific consultant, associate translator), Fundamental Books for Architects: Delirious New York (author: Rem Koolhaas), Bucharest: Ed. Universitară „Ion Mincu”, 2018; Learning from Las Vegas (authors: R. Venturi, D. Scott Brown, S. Izenour), Bucharest: Ed. Universitară „Ion Mincu”, 2017; Modern Architecture. A Critical History (author: Kenneth Frampton), Bucharest: Ed. Universitară „Ion Mincu”, 2016
Research project team member, Cincinat Sfințescu, founding father of Romanian urban planning, 2014 (funded by the Union of Architects of Romania / Order of Architects of Romania, through the Association for Urban Transition)
NEC (New Europe College) fellow (including a grant at the Institute for Railway Studies and Transport History, York, UK), research project: Un aller simple pour la modernité. L’urbanité roumaine sous le signe de la voie ferrée (1859-1918), 2009-2010
Research project team member, ACUM - Art, Urban Communities, Mobilization - Social Reintegration of the Artistic and Architectural Project, 2006-2008 (funded by CNCSIS-Consortium, no. 23/2006)
Contact
“Sanda Voiculescu” History & Theory of Architecture and Heritage Conservation Department, “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, 18-20 Academiei st., 010014, Bucharest, Romania
Tel. +40.21.307.71.78