FOTO-DOCUMENT | Bucureștiul distrus pe timp de pace. Demolările ilegale de pe Berzei-Buzești, un scandal îngropat, fără vinovați • Bucureștiul lui Andrei

In late 2010, the demolition of nearly 100 buildings in Bucharest's historic commercial areas sparked protests and legal actions against city officials. The demolitions aimed to facilitate traffic flow for a new urban project, despite significant public opposition and concerns about heritage loss. The Hala Matache was notably demolished under controversial circumstances, leading to a legal battle that ultimately deemed the project illegal in 2018. The area has since suffered from social and economic decline, with many historic structures lost forever. Photographer Andrei Bîrsan documented these changes, capturing the transformation of the urban landscape and the community's struggle to preserve its identity.