In its history, Dâmboviţa has undergone several important changes, becoming today a concrete canal, in many places unsanitary. The systematization of the water course did not, unfortunately, leave the possibility of using it for relaxation activities. On some segments, the presence should be “sweetened” by wider spaces, sometimes even planted, but in some places, it is simply a space lost between the roadway, unused. This is also the case of the segment between United Nations Square and Union Square, where the canal only blocks a harmonious development of pedestrian spaces. On this section is one of the important buildings of the city, both from an architectural and social point of view: the Palace of Justice, a heritage building. Due to the conformation of the urban space in this area, the Palace is visually ignored and does not participate in urban life. A building as imposing as that of the Palace of Justice cannot be served by a sidewalk even 2 m wide. From an urban point of view, Justice deserves respect.
On the other side of Dâmboviţa is the liveliest area in Bucharest and with the greatest tourist value: the Old Center, the Lipscani area. The historical area between Lipscani and Splaiul Unirii has never known an effervescence comparable to that of today, and in this area, Dâmboviţa practically blocks the expansion of the character of the historical area towards a major artery. The sidewalk around Splaiul Unirii will never acquire urban values at its current size and in the traffic conditions on it. The only salvation is to widen it, plant trees and create pedestrian areas.
It is necessary to transform this thoroughfare from a space intended for cars, to one oriented towards pedestrians, without disturbing road traffic. It would link, in this way, these two areas of the city separated at the moment by a useless canal.
Dâmboviţa, in the current conditions of a concrete canal, at least on this part, has negative effects on the harmonious development of urban life in this area. Can the city be better without Dâmboviţa? Can the city be friendlier, closer to the human scale? Is Dâmboviţa, in the collective consciousness, more valuable as a symbol, as a crippled relic, or could the city win through its absence? Maybe it’s time to “retire” and offer the space, so valuable, to pedestrians.
