The central areas of Romania’s capital have developed along a bewildering maze of small streets that characterised the old oriental market town that Bucharest has been during the long centuries of Turkish domination. The modernisation of the city that started in the second part of c19th did not follow a proper master plan as was the illustrious case of Paris. Only in the 1930s the city got a proper urban development master plan that is still followed today. In c19th the locals were concerned in terms of modernisation, mainly with erecting French inspired architecture residencies in place of the Balkan Ottoman style houses. That led to the emergence of a certain type of backstreet within the old Bucharest quarters, where some relic building structures still stand, as in the photograph above, which I took in Izvor area. Here one can still feel the faint pulse of the Ottoman times in the layout of narrow streets flanked by tall walls with small windows and the air of privacy characteristic of oriental residencies.
-Romanian language version/ Versiunea in limba romana la: http://casedeepoca.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/imaginea-zilei-16-dec-09-strada-gang-in-vechiul-bucuresti/
***********************************************
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.
***********************************************
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 