Integrating Obsolete Military Built Heritage Into Urban Life. A Comparative Analysis of Community Engagement Within the Valorization of Brialmont’s Fortifications in Romania and Belgium.

Architectural obsolescence acts as a catalyst in the process of abandonment, exerting a considerable influence on the destiny of built heritage. In the context of military edifices, this concept pertains to the decommissioning of a building, due to its inability to remain aligned with the fast-paced advancements in technology. Military built heritage is frequently the subject of abandonment due to ignorance of its patrimonial values, the absence of adequate protection measures and a lack of community engagement. The consequences of this type of anthropogenic disaster affect both the tangible and the intangible values of these structures, lea-ding to: fragmentation, collapse, vandalism, loss of symbolic identity and disconnection from the urban fabric. The current state of the Bucharest Fortress, designed by H. Brialmont, reflects the narrative of an unfulfilled destiny. The disarming of the fortifications in 1916 marked the commencement of decay and decline, resulting in the abandonment of the majority of the ensemble. Conversely, the defense belts built by the same general in Belgium, during approximately the same period, have been revitalised as a result of community involvement. In the light of the aforementioned cases, this essay aims to showcase a comparative analysis between the current state of Brialmont’s fortifications in Romania and Belgium, with regard to the role that community plays in the valorization of built military heritage. The paper will be developed by means of bibliographic, historical and comparative research, focusing on how participatory initiatives, linked to preservation and adaptive reuse, can instill a sense of ownership and facilitate the cultural integration of the Bucharest Fortress, based on the successful examples of Liège, Namur and Antwerp. This study is essential for highlighting the vital role that communities play in the fate of abandoned military built heritage, representing the pivotal factor, able to revitalize the Romanian fortification belt.