Category: Neoromanian

Neo-Romanian style lettering

Valentin Mandache

There is a multitude of architectural letter renderings as one goes visiting the historic quarters of Bucharest. The Neo-Romanian style lettering is one of the most interesting in terms of symbolism and the social, cultural and political history hidden behind it. In this video I present some of those fascinating details using three examples of Neo-Romanian style lettering found on houses in Cotroceni quarter of Bucharest.

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

The roof of Neo Romanian style houses

Valentin Mandache

Description of the most important roof elements of the usual Neo-Romanian style houses, their ornamental role, symbolism and structural function.

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

Indigenous and international architectural motifs in Cotroceni

Valentin Mandache

The interplay between indigenous and international architecture as seen examples from the Cotroceni quarter of Bucharest: a Neo-Romanian style house with Chinese inspired motifs and the Italian fascist style of the Military Academy.

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

Manichaean symbolism on Neo-Romanian style houses

Valentin Mandache

How to read the architectural decorative panels on the Neo-Romanian style houses, which show the even level fight between the good and evil forces of the Universe. They symbolise stability in world of upheavals, and reflect the local beliefs with roots in millennia old Manichaean religion, which came to the Romanian lands via the Christian sect of the Bogomils, active one thousand years ago in the Empire of Bulgaria, which also spread further west to Italy and France, giving rise to the Cathars. This is a fascinating aspect of the local architecture and traditions in Romania.

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

In the cloister of Stavropoleos monastery

Valentin Mandache

Presentation of the Stavropoloeos monastery cloister, a design in early Neo-Romanian style/ Neo-Brancovan by arch. Ion Mincu, built in 1904.

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

Why do the Neo-Romanian style houses have towers?

Valentin Mandache

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

About the Georgian and Armenian influences in Neo-Romanian style architecture

Valentin Mandache

***********************************************

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.

***********************************************

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.

Neo-Romanian style bird feeder

Valentin Mandache

The source of inspiration for this garden furniture artifact in Romania’s national architecture is the Byzantine church baptismal font.

Brancovan vs. Neoromanian

Valentin Mandache

There is a great confusion between two of the main architectural styles peculiar to the territory of Romania, Brancovan and Neoromanian. This video brings the necessary basic tools to equip you into making an informed distinction between the two, using historic and architectural aesthetics elements characterising these architecture designs and artistic currents imprinting the identity of the built landscape of this country in Southeastern Europe.

Travails of a Neoromanian house

Valentin Mandache

Note: The first paragraph and image is an April Fools’ Day joke, showing one of the landmark buildings of Bucharest in a happier time, in the early 1970s, while the reality is detailed in the second paragraph and image, plus video.

Amazing! Bucharest’s government of whom everyone says is corrupt, ignorant and actively destroying the town’s heritage, has just restored one of the landmarks of Romania’s capital: the early Neoromanian style rendered in Art Nouveau fashion Boteanu building, a design by arch. Petre Antonescu in the 1900s!

Boteanu building, by arch. Petre Antonescu, 1900s, in early phase Neoromanian style rendered in Art Nouveau fashion.
Boteanu building, by arch. Petre Antonescu, 1900s, in early phase Neoromanian style rendered in Art Nouveau fashion.

This is how the building is looking nowadays, compared with its former self, above, in the happier times of the 1970s decade, photographed by a rare American tourist, who visited during the communist thaw period in international relations, before Nicolae Ceausescu consolidated his totalitarian dictatorship. What we see today is the result of the neglect and active destruction that characterise the generations produced by Ceausescu’s rule and Ion Iliescu – Adrian Nastase post-communist corruption. Sadly the Royal House also plays in this dynamic, by giving medals to personages such as mayor Oprescu, who oversees the destruction of the architectural heritage, and its socialisation with corrupt Read more →