One the most conspicuous features of Bucharest’s Art Deco style edifices is the staircase tower. It is often embellished with ample windows unfurling along the length of the tower, which is sometimes also decorated with portholes and flag poles, symbolising the ocean liner and the idea of voyages to the southern seas, a the recurrent and much loved architectural theme by the 1930s Bucharest people. In most cases the staircase windows are densely decorated, glazed with opaque or coloured panes, not allowing any meaningful glimpse inside the tower, to see the design of the stair spiral. Bellow are a couple of the relatively rare transparent staircase windows, which I photographed in the Dacia and Calea Mosilor area of Bucharest. The glass transparency enhances the impression of lightness and slenderness of the overall Art Deco design and allows a glance inside these interesting buildings. It is however quite possible that their initial glazing was non-transparent and later replaced with what we see today, as a result of damages that might have occurred during the strong earthquakes, wars or revolutions, which have plagued the city in the last eight decades.
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I endeavour through this series of periodic articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.
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If you plan acquiring or selling a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing and transacting the property, specialist research, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 