The sewerage system of central Bucharest, where most of its historic houses are located, is a century to a eight decades old, without much maintenance in the meanwhile, while the pipework of the old houses is again decrepit and leaking. That creates the unwelcome conditions to generating foul smell in many of those houses, who are now on the real estate market at unbelievable prices, odours felt even by passersby on the street. The human waste is thus improperly flushed, and the all prevalent poo smelling is in many instances a characteristic of Bucharest period houses. The authorities do not do much to address that problems, which would entitle huge public funds to overhaul and modernise the sewerages system, money they prefer to use in their political propaganda and pay kickbacks to political clients, while the house owners usually do not have the financial power to repair their building’s pipework. This video endeavours to inform you about this more esoteric problem, which can add important costs to the renovation/ restoration project of a historic house.
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My aim, through this series of blog articles, is to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania and Southeast Europe, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of world’s architectural history and heritage.
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If you have a historic house project in Romania or other country in Southeast Europe, I would be delighted to advise you in aspects pertaining to its architectural history and ways to preserve as much as possible from its period fabric and aesthetics in the course of restoration or renovation works, or to counsel you with specialist consultancy work related to that project. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this website.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 