Former Independenta SA (Rieger factory)

 industrial heritage, closed, 19th century construction, 20th century construction

Established in 1875, founder Andreas Rieger who had since 1868 on Targul Pestelui Street a blacksmith workshop, soon becoming the most important machine factory in Transylvania.
Starting with 1894 new industrial halls were built (by viennese architects), later, between 1911 and 1980 new buildings were added.
During the first half of the 20th c. the factory, named Rieger at the time, merged with other important factories and workshops, such as the Virola factory, founded in 1855, or the nearby Samuel Wagner Factory, founded in 1869.
In 1948, when the communist nationalization began, the factory was renamed Independenta (The Independence). After the fall of communist in 1989, the factory was privatized, production diminished and moved to the Eastern Industrial Area where during the 1980's a new production platform was built.

After 1990 production on the old industrial platform stopped, the buildings being preserved. After 2000 the area and most of the buildings became a protected site (industrial heritage), since then several projects to redevelop the area were proposed (included the creation of an industrial museum part of Brukenthal Museum complex) but till this day, none have been approved.

patrimoniu.sibiu.ro/istorie_en/industrie/38