Dear readers,
I would like to invite you to a thematic architectural tour, this Saturday 8 April 2023, between the hours 12.00h – 14.00h, on the subject of the exceedingly interesting, but somehow elusive Art Nouveau architecture of Bucharest. The proposed cultural excursion may be of interest to any of you visiting the town as a tourist or on business, looking to find out more about its fascinating historic architecture and identity.
The innovative and flamboyant Art Nouveau current that emerged at the end of c19th, as a reaction to the rigidity of the historicist styles, had also an important impact in Fin de Siècle Romania. One of its notable influences was the articulation within its coordinates of the local national style, known today as Neoromanian, in a similar manner with how other emerging national styles in the rest of Eastern Europe expressed themselves in Art Nouveau fashions. There are just a handful of buildings in town expounding the international Art Nouveau design as a whole, a number of them examined and admired within this architecture trail. However there are still relatively remnants in Bucharest of this once exquisite style, but hard to notice by the untrained eye, which come in bits and pieces on buildings that underwent successive unkind renovations, or are found as patches within overall conservative historicist style edifices of the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, making the hunt for such design remnants even more captivating. I will endeavour to point you out from those details, explaining the meaning and message of some of the significant Art Nouveau representations embellishing the center of this town, and thus reveal how it has impacted the architectural development of Romania’s capital.
Book by emailing v.mandache@gmail.com or using the comments section of this post. Deadline for registrations: Friday 7 April, 20.00h (Bucharest hour). You will be informed of the meeting place on booking. Minimum three participants, maximum ten.
I look forward to seeing you at the tour,
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian, tel: 0040 (0)728323272
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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 advise 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 