ABSTRACT
This study explores the civic engagement in preserving Sibiu's architectural heritage, focusing on the role of urban actors from the past century. Specifically, it examines the preservation efforts of the Association for the Embellishment of Sibiu (AIOS), founded in 1879 by the city's cultural and economic elite, which aimed to beautify public spaces such as buildings, parks, and gardens from the imperial era. Initially led by the Transylvanian Saxons, who were the region's demographic majority, the preservation efforts shifted after the 1990s to a predominantly Romanian-led community. The study investigates how the preservation of tangible cultural heritage has remained constant despite changing political structures, with different actors involved over time. After its re-establishment in 2001, AIOS brought together a new generation of leaders from diverse professional fields to support the city's development and heritage. The research highlights the contrast between the centralised, organised heritage management under the Austro-Hungarian Empire and today's more fragmented approach, despite technological advances.
