The team of the Transylvania Trust Foundation bids farewell to its Founding Member and Honorary President, dr. Bálint Szabó, civil engineer and university professor, who passed away on 18 June 2024.

He was an outstanding figure of the Transylvanian built heritage conservation field, who, in addition to his professional achievements, constantly sought to pass on his knowledge and love for historic buildings to younger generations.

He was one of the first to recognise that the conditions of built heritage conservation established in the last decade of the past century were not sufficient, that a sustainable framework was needed for the preservation of historic buildings and that the perception of built culture needed to change. He took on a significant task when he set up the Transylvania Trust Foundation in 1996, together with like-minded professionals, to protect Transylvanian built heritage, to manage heritage conservation and to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy. His complex vision included data recording, inventory, survey, building restoration, maintenance, training, and also scientific research. He has set up specialisation and training programmes, through which he greatly contributed to the training of professionals in the field.

He also considered it important to provide assistance to owners of heritage assets, creating a framework for them to turn to when they were struggling to save their values. Last but not least, he wanted to set an example, illustrating with best practices the possibilities of heritage conservation.

We will pass on the heritage he entrusted us with.

Rest in peace.