The old central Bucharest is a compact urban space with not much land available for laying out private gardens or even ampler backyards. Many of the gardens that existed there in the c19th or early c20th were built over in the course of time or gradually reduced in size as the city developed and new buildings were erected. It is sometimes possible to find within the courtyard of some of the period houses remnants of the previous garden architecture and artefacts that once embellished long gone verdant plots. I have thus been very pleased to find the rare Neo-Romanian style gazebo pavilion pictured in the image above, well hidden at the bottom of a narrow courtyard in Calea Calarasi area. The structure has once stood within a larger landscaped plot, which has since been partitioned and built over. It is less known that the Neo-Romanian style was also adapted for garden architecture, although that direction of development was incomparably less prominent or represented than in building architecture. Some Neo-Romanian gardens were laid out within the grounds of the Romanian royal palaces such as the Scroviste Palace north of Bucharest or within some areas of the Cotroceni Palace gardens, etc. This gazebo with its hallmark Neo-Romanian elements represented by the short arches and Ottoman Balkan church inspired arches is thus an uncommon occurrence, which if restored or renovated would greatly add to the quaintness and value of a Neo-Romanian style house.
***********************************************
I endeavor through this daily series of images and small articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.
***********************************************
If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing 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 