In 2024, after more than a decade of efforts, the covered bridge in Coșbuc, the most complex and last of its kind in Romania, was saved from collapse. A Category A historical monument, the wooden bridge dates back to 1778 and was built by local border guards and craftsmen, based on the plans of an Italian engineer from Tyrol.
Built of oak, spruce, and coniferous wood, with a hipped shingle roof, elements joined with dovetails and fixed with wooden nails, the border bridge served both the Wallachian Border Regiment and the local community, facilitating the crossing of the Sălăuța River. Over time, the marked deterioration of the structure has raised alarm bells among specialists, authorities, and residents.
For Costin and Vlad Design Office, this bridge has a special significance: it is the first infrastructure project carried out jointly by the office's founders, Bogdan Costin and Mihai Vlad. In 2016, immediately after graduating from the Faculty of Construction in Cluj, the two offered to redo the expired feasibility study free of charge and to develop the technical rehabilitation project—a gesture born out of respect for heritage and a desire to contribute to saving a building of historical and identity value.
Here is what Bogdan Costin, co-founder of Costin and Vlad Design Office, had to say about this project:
"The Coșbuc Bridge is my joy [...] It is our passion project. Looking at the whole context, it has been a very tough game, with ups and downs, refusals and comebacks. But I am glad that we persevered and did not give up the fight. We did it! In recent years, the battle was no longer about the project, but about money, about obtaining funding. We kept updating the data because prices and costs were rising, and the mayor was looking for funding. It was a miracle, though, that he received it and that we succeeded, because—I'll be honest—there were times when I thought it would be abandoned and that would be the end of it. It would have been a disaster! Because we don't have bridges like this anymore. […] We like works of art more, and that's why we became so attached to this bridge; we want its historical value to be restored. I would like it to be promoted for tourism and for the cultural benefit of the community." [...] When I think of it, my mind wanders to a meeting place and center of interest for the village, as it was in the past, and even more than that. I see it as a pillar of the community."
The work was carried out between 2022 and 2024, under the supervision of the National Heritage Institute and with funding from the National Restoration Program. The intervention involved strengthening the structure, maintaining the original architectural details, and using materials compatible with the historical ones. Total investment: 2.6 million lei (excluding VAT).
The Coșbuc project is not only a technical and administrative success, but also an example of sensitive restoration, paving the way for the community to reconnect with its own heritage. The completion of the works creates the conditions for transforming this bridge into a living space, dedicated to cultural gatherings, local events, and the rediscovery of a valuable historical identity.
