The above type of small town house is usually encountered in the former outskirts of the turn of 19th to 20th century Bucharest, areas nowadays located quite close to the city centre. Its architecture and decorations are usually rendered in the Little Paris fashion (provincially interpreted French 19th century styles), popular in that period among the local public, including small merchant and state employee classes (policemen, clerks, teachers) that built and inhabited that type of small house, which today constitutes excellent renovation projects. The unusual fact associated with the above example is its Neo-Romanian style decorations grafted on a Little Paris house structure. One can see the hallmarks of this style for example in the Ottoman inspired latticework motifs and window top and house corner medallions. It indicates a preoccupation and desire at that time among the lower middle classes to adopt and adapt the patriotic Neo-Romanian architectural style, which was usually a heavy investment afforded only by wealthy citizens because of its highly decorative and monumental character.
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I endeavor through this daily image series to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural heritage.
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If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in locating the property, specialist research, planning permissions, restoration project management, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 