Living Near Water: The Timeless Appeal of Waterfront Living

There’s a reason so many cities through out history have been built around rivers, lakes, and coastlines. From trade and transportation to recreation and relaxation, water shapes how we live— and how we feel. Today, the appeal of water front living continues to grow, not just for its beauty, but for its measurable benefits to mental and physical well-being.

In Bucharest, where dense urban life and new development often define the landscape, opportunities to live close to water are limited. That’s part of what makes the area surrounding Fabrica de Glucoză — and the new One Lake Club development — an interesting case study in what it means to integrate nature into city living.

Blue Space and Well-Being: What the Research Says

“Blue space” is a term used by researchers to describe visible bodies of water — lakes, rivers, canals, and coastlines — and their impact on public health. The findings across multiple studies are striking.

A study published in Health& Place (White et al., 2013) found that people who live closer to water consistently report better mental health, even when adjusting for income and access to green space. Other research conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health in 2020 noted that children growing up with regular exposure to water features show reduced levels of stress and stronger emotional regulation.

Perhaps most significantly, a systematic review led by the European Centre for Environment & Human Health linked proximity to water with a 17% improvement in self-reported well-being. These aren’t just abstract benefits-they manifest in better sleep, more physical activity, and stronger connections to community and place.

A Changing Landscape on Fabrica de Glucoză

The area around Fabrica de Glucoză in northern Bucharest has seen rapid transformation over the last few years. Once primarily industrial, it's now one of the city’s fastest-growing residential zones, thanks to infrastructure improvements, new cafés and shops, and its easy connection to Pipera and the city center.

But what sets it apart from other new neighborhoods is its access to water. In a city where many residential areas are dense and built-up, having a stretch of lake and river nearby offers a different kind of urban experience—one that feels more spacious, more grounded, and more in tune with the rhythms of nature.

What One Lake Club Adds to the Equation

One Lake Club, currently in development along this lake side corridor, ispart of this broader reimagining of urban life. The project includes sevenmid-rise buildings arranged around a private lake front, with integrated services and shared green spaces. While the architecture is contemporary, the concept is rooted in older ideas about how people thrive—when they have easy access to nature, light, water, and walkable communities.

There’s a practical side to the project, too. The buildings incorporate geothermal heat pump systems—one of the most energy-efficient and low-emission heating and cooling technologies available today. Combined with underground parking, pedestrian-friendly walk ways, and plenty of natural landscaping, the design encourages a more balanced way of living, especially in a high-density capital.

Rethinking Rental Living in Bucharest

For many, renting in Bucharest means compromising between location, design, and access to nature. Projects like One Lake Club suggest that doesn’t always have to be the case. With more people prioritizing wellness, flexibility, and sustainability in their housing decisions, the demand for rentals in areas that offer both connectivity and calm is likely to grow.

Living near water may not be a silver bullet for urban stress—but the evidence suggests it helps. And in the increasingly vertical life of modern Bucharest, that kind of access may soon become one of the city’s most valuable amenities.

Sources and Further Reading

White, M. P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., et al. (2013). Would You Be Happier Living Closer to the Sea? Health & Place. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.02.001
Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). (2020). Blue spaces and child mental health‍

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