Practice – Vatraa

VATRAA¹ is an architecture practice founded by Anamaria and Bogdan Rusu in 2018, operating across family, community, and urban scales. Our work amplifies what is already there—the light, landscape, and memory of place. With a focus on the sensory qualities of a space, we shape experiences that return us to what matters.

Photo: James Retief

Vatra is the hearth of the traditional Romanian home. It serves functional, social, and symbolic roles while growing more cherished over time. In Romanian culture, ‘returning to the vatra’ became a metaphor for returning to one’s roots—a primordial sense of belonging to family, community, and the land itself. For us, the word became an instruction: to shape deeper experiences that ground every project in its reason and place.

In the making of something and somewhere, the maker has a responsibility to those in and around it. Our design improves connection and experience, regardless of client or scale, creating somewhere that ages, endures and evolves. Combined with a contextual and curious approach to design, we strive for sensory experience; harnessing detail, expressing history and intention. Finding reason in and beyond beauty. Designing, shaping and making what was meant to be.

Our practice has led VATRAA to be featured in the international press, including Fast Company and Dezeen. Our designs have been recognised at the RIBA Awards, Dezeen Awards, Archdaily Awards, AJ Retrofit, Don’t Move Improve or British Home Awards, culminating in the construction of the ‘Monument against Plastic Pollution’ in Milan after winning an international competition with 1600 entries. In 2021, Dezeen listed VATRAA among the Emerging Architects of the Year worldwide, while in 2024, RIBA awarded VATRAA with a London Award and a Stephen Lawrence Prize shortlist.

Core Team

Anamaria Rusu

Founding Partner

ARB, OAR

Anamaria Rusu

ARB, OAR

Founding Partner

Anamaria obtained a Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction from the University of Westminister in London. Before co-founding VATRAA, Anamaria worked at high-profile architectural firms in Bucharest and London, where she developed a strong expertise on listed buildings and a sensitivity for contextual design. Her work reflects her passion for deeply understanding the end users, in order to provide hyper-functional spaces that are completely costumised on their needs. Anamaria is an ARB registered architect in the UK and a member of RIBA.

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Andrei Gherla

Partner

ARB

Andrei Gherla

ARB

Partner

Andrei holds a master’s degree from Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism and a Postgraduate Diploma from The Bartlett School of Architecture. Prior to joining VATRAA, he was project leader for £30m+ high-end residential developments, hotels and community projects in London. With his practical mindset, combined with a clear communication and strong project organisational skills, he is in charge of the management aspect of VATRAA’s projects in Romania. Andrei is an ARB registered architect in the UK.

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Andrei Patriche

Partner

OAR

Andrei Patriche

OAR

Partner

Andrei graduated with a master’s degree from Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism in 2014. Before joining VATRAA, Andrei developed expertise in private housing, as well as multi-residential and commercial developments across Romania. With strong knowledge of local planning regulations, combined with his hands-on approach and a keen attention to the project’s technical aspects, he is in charge of the site implementation of VATRAA’s projects in Romania. Andrei is member of the Architects’ Chamber of Romania.

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Bogdan Rusu

Founding Partner

ARB, OAR

Bogdan Rusu

ARB, OAR

Founding Partner

Bogdan graduated with a master’s degree from TU Delft Faculty of Architecture in 2015. Before co-founding VATRAA, Bogdan worked at world famous architectural firms such as REX in New York, Kengo Kuma in Paris and PLP Architecture in London, on one-of-a-kind projects from museums, public spaces, hotels, healthcare and private residential. His expertise focuses on materials, light and atmosphere tailored on the end user’s personality. Bogdan is an ARB registered architect in the UK and member of the Architects’ Chamber of Romania.

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