Moara Roșie showcased at NONA Investment Forum in Chișinău, Moldova

The NONA project partner Chișinău City Hall hosted an Investment Forum on Monday, 15 December 2025 at Artcor Creative Hub implemented through the General Directorate for Architecture, Urbanism and Land Relations. The forum gathered representatives from central and local public authorities, academia, the private sector, and the creative industries, providing a platform to discuss sustainable development pathways for the Municipality of Chișinău and explore opportunities to unlock the city’s urban, economic and cultural potential, green financing and investment opportunities.

The agenda included welcome addresses by Ion Ceban, General Mayor of Chișinău, and supported by Svetlana Dogotaru, Head of the General Directorate for Architecture, Urban Planning and Land Relations. 

The presentation of the NONA Chișinău project pilot Red Mill/Moara Roșie was held by Project manager Victor Buzu. Moara Roșie was the first steam-powered mill, built between 1850 and 1860, rebuilt in stone in 1884, and expanded in 1890. Its iconic red brick façade, added after a 1901 fire, gives the building its name. Operating as a flour mill until the 1950s and later repurposed during the Soviet era, the Red Mill is recognised as an important architectural monument (Registry of Monuments of the Republic of Moldova, no. 211).

Later on, a concept design for Moara Roșie was presented by Gheorghe Bulat, Chief architect of the restoration/reconstruction project for the Moara Roșie include ensuring structural safety, conserving historical and industrial elements, establishing restoration stages with urgent safety measures, selecting technical solutions for heritage preservation and sustainable functional use, and preparing the detailed restoration project. 

The Investment forum concluded with a Q&A and networking session, providing participants with the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions about the NONA project and the restoration of the Red Mill/Moara Roșie showcased as a model for sustainable investment and urban heritage revitalisation. These discussions took place within the framework of the NONA Project, aiming to develop a new multi-level governance model for integrating green investments into sustainable territorial development and the reuse of degraded post-industrial areas, contributing to urban modernisation and the revitalisation of industrial heritage.