International cultural reconstruction camp

Jimbor (Székelyzsombor), Romania

Jimbor (Székelyzsombor), Romania used to be a Saxon village in the purely Saxon region of the formerly three nationality (Romanian, Hungarian and German) Transylvania. The roots can be traced back easily if we have a look at the former name of the place: Szászzsombor ("Saxon Jimbor"). The emigrating Saxons left behind their Lutheran religion and unparalleled architecture. Today the village is multinationality inhabited by Hungarians, Romanians and Gypsies. There are two main architectural interests of the village: a small "peasant castle" on the hill and a historic unspoiled street scenery from the 19th century.

The so-called "Zólya-porta", which was built at the very beginning of the last century, is in the heart of the small place. The building with its large garden is enclosed with a stone wall and it used to house a peasant home, cellars, a guard chamber, a summer kitchen, a baking room, stables, a barn and a well-house. We think that it is well worth saving for the future generations.

Both its location and the arrangement of its interior make the house ideal for the purposes of our camping program. On the one hand, as an institution, the renovated building could become the cultural centre and a guardian of the heritage of the village. On the other hand, it could work as a summer camp for students from different parts of Europe. In order to make the building suitable for these functions, we are planning to convert its parts into a museum room, a guest room, a kitchen, a bath, a dormitory, a small surgery, a stage and a large hall for public events without changing the original appearance and supposed atmosphere of the place.

Since rapidly changing economic conditions and the massive industrialization offer an obvious opportunity for the people in the countryside to live a more comfortable life, they are rather indifferent towards the perishing of their old buildings, what is more, quite often they themselves pull down these old buildings simply because they are considered impractical. By renovating the Zólya-house we wish to set a good example that comfort and functions in a modern sense are by far not in contradiction with preserving the past. Having a look at the way the villagers handle the old objects, one finds the same indifference. Wishing to save these items from a total destruction, we would like to collect and exhibit them.

The "Zólya-house" is a joint property of the local Lutheran Community, the Liceul Áprily Lajos and the Berzsenyi Dániel Secondary Grammar School. The co-operation between the two schools dates back as far as the early days following the 1989 Romanian Revolution. We took part in the restoration of a late renaissance castle in Alsórákos (Racosul de Jos); Romania and we also contributed to the conservation of the Jimbor castle. The Liceul Áprily Lajos is a secondary school in nearby Brasov, a twin school of the Berzsenyi Dániel Secondary Grammar School from Budapest. The Lutheran Community of Jimbor joined us in 1993. A year later we purchased the above mentioned "Zólya-house" with the financial support of the Dutch Reformed Church.

In recent years we have conducted architectural surveys, built a channel system, provided the building with drinking water, strengthened some of the walls, renewed the roof, created the place of the stage and the community hall in the barn, plastered the inside as well as the outside walls of the barn and the well-house. These works were already assisted by the Internationaler Bauorden (Bouworde) Foundation. Next year we wish to continue the works. At first we need a further architectural survey and designing. In the process of the reconstruction skilled workers are responsible for the lion's share of the works, the students act as assistants.

As a result of our efforts the original appearance of the house will be retained and the whole building will function as a part of the everyday life of the village. Inside the museum the past of the village will be visible to the general public. Since we are planning to organize summer camps even after finishing the complete renovation of the building, we are fully convinced that our project will make a widespread impact on the younger generations of the future.

November 1997

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