The Neo-Romanian style architecture buildings are usually compositions of heavy forms and volumes, a design inspired from that of the late medieval churches of Wallachia or the c17th – c19th cula buildings, the fortified houses of the yeomen of Oltenia, in south western Romania. The style also emerged during the pan-European national romantic experiments in architecture at the end of c19th and put emphasis on old construction materials and methods like heavy masonry or massive brick walls, thus not being adequately receptive to new materials such as steel or glass that came into use on a large scale in that period. That is one of the main reasons why the Neo-Romanian architecture was only occasionally a style choice for taller structures such as the block of flats. The Neo-Romanian apartment blocks generally resemble slumbering massive houses, having difficulty to convey the impression of height and verticality, an example of which can be seen in the photograph above. I very much like the fact that despite this more adverse structural setting, the essential elements of the Neo-Romanian style architecture are still vigorously brought to fore, such as the mock cula tower (the bay window unfurling on the street façade), the arched verandas or the short Byzantine type columns, etc.
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I endeavor through this daily series of daily articles 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 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 