The ‘Bucium Summer University’ was conceived to raise awareness among local communities and public authorities of the value of their rural heritage and the importance of safeguarding vernacular heritage assets for restoration, protection and integration into sustainable development programmes.

The resulting publication, produced by Rencontres du Patrimoine Europe-Roumanie [RPER Ro], built on the first edition of the Summer University, held in 2011. The field study documented 84 vernacular architecture sites, combining photographs, architectural and morphological analyses, construction characteristics and GPS locations; detailed surveys were also produced for 10 of them.

Rhabillage Association advised on the design and organisation of the project activities, coordinated its communication strategy, managed the publication’s graphic format and edited its content. Rhabillage also coordinated the distribution of 200 copies, made available free of charge to libraries, universities, cultural institutions, public authorities, the Bucium community, heritage specialists, partners and collaborators.

The project connected field-based heritage research, local awareness, knowledge dissemination and sustainable rural development, creating an accessible resource for both communities and heritage professionals.