The well proportioned Art Deco style doorway from the above photograph, with its abstract, cubist-like decorative design, and stern metallic reflections, exudes in a very apt manner the air of confidence typical of the age of mechanical machinery and production line factories brought about by the technological innovations and the economies of scale of the inter-war period- the environment in which the Art Deco and modernist styles emerged and developed. I very much like the fact that this doorway is still making a powerful impression of freshness and vigour on anyone who cares to admire it (I found it adorning a very derelict mid 1930s small block of flats, on a run down Bucharest street), despite its quite venerable age and the fact that it saw next to nothing maintenance in the last seventy years, a testimony of the quality of materials and workmanship used in its manufacturing in that period.
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I endeavor through this 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 
Valentine what a fabulous door with a great collection of shapes. Interesting that there are 4 handles attached to the vertical bar – in most Deco designs, there would only have been three (the rule of three). If it is on a derelict block, can it be rescued?
regards Robin
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Thanks Robin for your comment! I asked myself about the 4 handles- why not 3 as the usual ‘rule of three’ would require? I noticed, at least for Bucharest, that the rule is only loosely followed, perhaps because the Egyptian discoveries of that era, from where the rule stems, had a somehow more muted impact here in the Balkans than in the English speaking countries. The apartment block containing this doorway, as most Art Deco era building of Bucharest, is in a very sorry state and there is not much hope of rescue for these buildings- the locals nearly unanimously do not understand their value after the brain wash of the communist era and see them just as old buildings deserving to be knocked down to make way for new edifices. Valentin
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