Category: Post-communist

“Old and New in Bucharest Architecture. How to Preserve our Identity?”- Radio Programme

Valentin Mandache

This was a radio broadcast programme by Radio Romania International on 16 March ’10, 20.00h-21.00h, on the subject of Bucharest’s old buildings and their plight in the last two decades of Romania’s painful transition from communism to democracy and market economy. The debate, entitled “Old and new in Bucharest architecture. How to preserve our identity?”, took place among blog authors specialised on the architectural heritage. The participants were the following: the author of this blog- Valentin Madache (Historic Houses of Romania), Cezar Buimaci (Orasul lui Bucur) and Dan Rosca (Bucurestii Vechi), moderator- Mara Popa. The language used is Romanian; apologises for the non-speakers of this language.

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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 locating 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.

Post-Communist Urban Tastes

Valentin Mandache
Is this a new and worrying trend in Romania’s urban landscaping?  Disused Soviet era MIG-21 fighter jet used as public park monument in a civilian residential area of Fetesti, South East Romania. (©Valentin Mandache)

Is the above image a measure of Romania’s population ignorance and neglect, after decades of communism and chaotic post-comunist transition, of its own architectural heritage? That seems to be the case in provincial towns such as Fetesti, where I took this photograph. The Soviet era awe inspiring MIG-21 fighter jet publicly displayed as a monument in a residential area is a reflection of the terror and brain washing induced by decades of communism and how that transformed the local psyche. Appreciation of history, old urban and peasant architecture and local arts and crafts seems to be light years away from the minds of citizens of this town. The hope is that the next generation would somehow be able to again appreciate its heritage and identity, facts considered by many locals today as shallow pernicketies.

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I endeavor through this daily image series 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 locating 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.