During the 1960s Berceni transformed from a sparsely populated area into a bustling working-class district. This is Berceni’s story. Imagine a vast expanse of land just outside Bucharest. A few rural properties dotted the landscape. The only significant landmarks were the long-gone Văcărești Monastery and the Bellu Cemetery. Then came the year 1964. The Scânteia newspaper announced a new housing estate. It would house workers from the nearby IMGB plant. Construction began immediately. Many Lipovan Russians from Dobruja arrived to help build the foundations. They uncovered numerous graves during their work. This unexpected discovery marked an early chapter in Berceni’s history.
The first residents moved into their new homes in 1965. Four to nine-story apartment buildings quickly rose. The local market wasn’t ready. Food trucks supplied daily necessities. The construction of four-story buildings was rapid. They used prefabricated panels a first for large-scale apartment projects. Nine-story buildings took longer traditional methods were used. The initial goal of 5500 apartments was reached by 1968. Construction continued until around 1976. Buildings near Piața Sudului were constructed simultaneously.
Construction continued in western Berceni starting in 1971. Four and ten-story apartment blocks went up using prefabricated panels. This phase finished by 1981. Green spaces were reduced to make room for more housing. A small group of houses survived demolition. Planners thought they gave the area “a special characteristic”. Berceni received a major boost in February 1975. A large shopping center BIG Berceni opened. Schools were built and trolleybus routes opened. The M2 metro line began operating in 1986. This served Piața Sudului Apărătorii Patriei and the IMGB industrial area. In 1987 the trolleybus network of Berceni became isolated from the rest of Bucharest’s. This was part of an attempt to reorganize city transport.
From 1982 to 1990 further apartment blocks were built. They sprung up along Olteniței Avenue and Constantin Brâncoveanu Avenue. Berceni was then the largest working-class district in southern Bucharest. It was one of four major housing estates built in the 1960s. After the 1989 revolution Berceni gained a reputation for high crime. The crime rate has declined in the past decade. Since 2016 a road reconstruction and apartment renovation program has been underway. This continues to shape Berceni’s landscape. This is Berceni. A place of transformation. A testament to planning. A place where past and present intertwine.