Some graduation projects go beyond the classroom. A project developed at UTM’s Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning has now reached an international professional audience: Maxim Kaluian’s proposal to redesign the “Eugène Ionesco” National Theatre in Chișinău.
The idea behind the project was to rethink the building as a fully functional theatre adapted to today’s needs. Maxim’s work was grounded in applied research: he studied the building, its site and the surrounding urban context, and carried out the necessary on-site measurements. That process helped him shape a more developed architectural proposal, one shaped by the real conditions of the site.
The façade concept draws on one of theatre’s most familiar images: the stage curtain. Maxim reinterpreted it through white metal panels set at a 45-degree angle, creating a more dynamic façade while filtering natural light and helping to prevent the main hall from overheating. Since the building’s current glass façade causes problems with direct sun exposure, the proposal combines a strong architectural identity with a practical response to the space’s needs. This balance became the starting point for the entire concept.
“With this project, I wanted to give the building a look that feels both attractive and functional. Architecture is always about finding the right balance between elegance and usability.”
During Maxim’s bachelor’s thesis defence, the project was met with positive feedback from professors, the jury, students and the theatre team.
The project was later presented at the 2025 National Architecture Biennale of Romania, BNA “Altfel,” where it won the OAR Iași–Vaslui Branch Award in the emerging architects section. The project was also featured in Arhitectura, the magazine of the Union of Architects of Romania, founded in 1906, further confirming the professional interest generated by the UTM graduate’s proposal.
The project grew out of a real need at the “Eugène Ionesco” National Theatre, which is looking to reorganize its spaces and adapt the building to the way theatre functions today. Maxim Kaluian’s proposal will still need to pass through the necessary stages of review, approval and funding before it can move closer to implementation.
At UTM, we support students who are willing to take on real challenges and push their ideas beyond the classroom. Experiences like this help them grow professionally, understand what beneficiaries actually need and see how their work can contribute to the city’s development. In this case, a bachelor’s thesis became a proposal with real potential for Chișinău.
The full project animation is available here.
