vineri, 27 decembrie 2019
Viscri
Câlnic Fortified Church
It was built as a private residence ( small manor) in the 13th century by the nobleman Chyl de Kelling.This manor remained in the property of the family until 1430 when it was sold to the villagers who transformed it into a proper fortification.
vineri, 8 noiembrie 2019
Sofian House-Botosani
Sofian House” was built in 1900 Neculai Sofian, former mayor of the city in a vast park (destroyed in the mid-twentieth century)
miercuri, 6 noiembrie 2019
Cantacuzino villa-the little castle of the Olt valley
Built at the end of the 19th century, this aristocratic villa located at the border between Călimăneşti and Căciulata was a constant presence on the Olt Valley illustrates.
The villa was built by engineer Ion G. Cantacuzino, from the famous noble Cantacuzino family, a dynasty with Byzantine origins that ruled in Wallachia and Moldova. Descending from the branch of the ruler Șerban Cantacuzino, Ion G. Cantacuzino built the railway on the Olt Valley, the first modern spring water collection system of the Căciulata spring and a cement factory in Brăila. 
He married Maria Fălcoianu and they had four children, the first being Ioana (1895-1951). Ioana spent her childhood in Călimăneşti, where she attended primary school, continuing high school in Paris. She was passionate about flying, and shared this interest with her brother, Mircea. In 1928, the two brothers founded the first motorized flight school in the country. Ioana was the holder of the first pilot licence (1930), being the first woman in Romania to obtain it. In the same year, her brother had an aviation accident and died - following the tragic episode, the princess gave up flying and took over the management of the Băneasa Pilotage School, which she named "Mircea Cantacuzino", after her brother. Princess Marina Ştirbey received her pilot licence here, as well. Ioana Cantacuzino was married twice: first with Grigore Carp, then with engineer Aurel Persu.
In 1941, the princess had a conflict with Marshal Ion Antonescu and was imprisoned at the Târgu-Jiu camp, where she fell ill and was transferred to a hospital. In March 1942, she returned to Călimăneşti-Căciulata to settle in the family's villa, because her apartment in Bucharest had been destroyed by a bombing. She was received with much hostility and reluctance, considered to be ‘’a spy for the Germans’’. In this period, she greatly suffered of loneliness - because of the arrest, she was isolated from her friends. She survived by selling her remaining books and assets. On February 4th, 1949, she was evicted from the villa and transferred to a room in a building on 110 Lenin street (today Calea lui Traian), at the Iepureanu family. She died on December 15th, 1951, at the age of 56. "She died in total anonymity, just as many other great values and personalities crushed by communist oppression," wrote the writer Constantin Mateescu. He had the opportunity to live in the little castle during the communist period, when it was called "August 23 Villa" recollecting it as "an impressive construction due to its archaic architecture and filled with the spirit of the beginning of the century. It had, in fact, the appearance of a medieval castle with towers, thick walls, sharp roofs, but also with large carved wooden porches, all day illuminated by the winter sun coming over Olt. Built under the forest of a rare beauty that borders the resort on the other side of the river, and dominating the road leading to Sibiu, the building defied with its height the surroundings."
Today, the imposing building is hidden among the trees, mysteriously watching over the resort. Its structure, partition and surface are suitable both for a vacation residence for several families and a business in the hospitality industry.
Sources: Constantin Mateescu, „Râmnicul de odinioară”, Almarom Publishing, Râmnicu- Vâlcea, 1993
adevarul.ro
He married Maria Fălcoianu and they had four children, the first being Ioana (1895-1951). Ioana spent her childhood in Călimăneşti, where she attended primary school, continuing high school in Paris. She was passionate about flying, and shared this interest with her brother, Mircea. In 1928, the two brothers founded the first motorized flight school in the country. Ioana was the holder of the first pilot licence (1930), being the first woman in Romania to obtain it. In the same year, her brother had an aviation accident and died - following the tragic episode, the princess gave up flying and took over the management of the Băneasa Pilotage School, which she named "Mircea Cantacuzino", after her brother. Princess Marina Ştirbey received her pilot licence here, as well. Ioana Cantacuzino was married twice: first with Grigore Carp, then with engineer Aurel Persu.
In 1941, the princess had a conflict with Marshal Ion Antonescu and was imprisoned at the Târgu-Jiu camp, where she fell ill and was transferred to a hospital. In March 1942, she returned to Călimăneşti-Căciulata to settle in the family's villa, because her apartment in Bucharest had been destroyed by a bombing. She was received with much hostility and reluctance, considered to be ‘’a spy for the Germans’’. In this period, she greatly suffered of loneliness - because of the arrest, she was isolated from her friends. She survived by selling her remaining books and assets. On February 4th, 1949, she was evicted from the villa and transferred to a room in a building on 110 Lenin street (today Calea lui Traian), at the Iepureanu family. She died on December 15th, 1951, at the age of 56. "She died in total anonymity, just as many other great values and personalities crushed by communist oppression," wrote the writer Constantin Mateescu. He had the opportunity to live in the little castle during the communist period, when it was called "August 23 Villa" recollecting it as "an impressive construction due to its archaic architecture and filled with the spirit of the beginning of the century. It had, in fact, the appearance of a medieval castle with towers, thick walls, sharp roofs, but also with large carved wooden porches, all day illuminated by the winter sun coming over Olt. Built under the forest of a rare beauty that borders the resort on the other side of the river, and dominating the road leading to Sibiu, the building defied with its height the surroundings."
Today, the imposing building is hidden among the trees, mysteriously watching over the resort. Its structure, partition and surface are suitable both for a vacation residence for several families and a business in the hospitality industry.
Sources: Constantin Mateescu, „Râmnicul de odinioară”, Almarom Publishing, Râmnicu- Vâlcea, 1993
adevarul.ro
miercuri, 30 octombrie 2019
Maurice Blank Palace
Famous for having hosted the United States Embassy for over 70 years, the Palace located on Tudor Arghezi street regained its lost history for over a century. Known as Maurice Blank Palace, the residence of one of the most important bankers of modern Romania, was built in 1891, under the guidance of its first owner, by the hand and project of the famous Swiss architect Louis Pierre Blanc (1860-1903). He created some important Romanian public buildings, such as, the Palace of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Palace of the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Iaşi Headquarters and the Victor Babes Institute. Louis Blanc left behind an important series of private residences as well, having a great influence over the image of Bucharest from 1900 to this day.
Working only 20 years in Romania, and especially in Bucharest, Louis Blanc arrived in the capital city in 1884, brought by his friendship with Ion Mincu, but also by a favourable environment for the development of an exceptional career. His style reminds us of the French Neoclassicism, especially in monumental buildings, and when it comes to private residences we notice an architect with a passion for the French taste, from Neo-Renaissance to beaux-arts. Louis Blanc succeeded within 5 to 10 years to become one of the most important architects and "decorators" of Bucharest at the end of the nineteenth century. The relations created through the two marriages, with Elena Şuţu and later Irina Berindei offered him contracts and contacts with the high Romanian society.
Thus, in the spring of 1891, Louis Blanc, together with his associate Luigi Scolari, began the work at the Palace of Maurice Blank, co-founder of the well-known Marmorosch Blank & Co bank (1864) along Iacob Marmorosch being one of the most important bankers of the late nineteenth century (i.e. the bank lent the Romanian state in the campaign for the War of Independence). Even though today Maurice Blank is remembered mainly for having built the famous headquarters of the bank on Doamnei Street and the Băneasa Forest mausoleum, the palace on Tudor Arghezi Street is undoubtedly an architectural jewel that will remain permanently in the Romanian history and culture.
Having a L-shaped design, 2.500 built square meters in the 50 rooms, and a generous garden decorated with pine trees and a fountain, the Maurice Blank palace became an architectural landmark for the residences located in the proximity of the University square.
In 1934 the palace was purchased by the lawyer and politician Eduard Mirto, who was the last rightful owner until the installation of the Communist regime. Eduard Mirto will initiate the links between the Blank Palace and the United States Embassy, renting the building in 1939 after some authorized renovation, consolidation and modernization works. He installed a system of centralized heating and plumbing extending the construction in the area of its secondary façade right on the verge of the outbreak of the Second World War. The US Embassy will remain there until 2011 when the building re-entered the private circuit as one of Bucharest’s architectural masterpieces.
Sources: Oana Marinache and Cristian Gache, „Louis Pierre Blanc. o planșetă elvețiană în serviciul României”, Istoria Artei publishing house, 2014
Working only 20 years in Romania, and especially in Bucharest, Louis Blanc arrived in the capital city in 1884, brought by his friendship with Ion Mincu, but also by a favourable environment for the development of an exceptional career. His style reminds us of the French Neoclassicism, especially in monumental buildings, and when it comes to private residences we notice an architect with a passion for the French taste, from Neo-Renaissance to beaux-arts. Louis Blanc succeeded within 5 to 10 years to become one of the most important architects and "decorators" of Bucharest at the end of the nineteenth century. The relations created through the two marriages, with Elena Şuţu and later Irina Berindei offered him contracts and contacts with the high Romanian society.
Thus, in the spring of 1891, Louis Blanc, together with his associate Luigi Scolari, began the work at the Palace of Maurice Blank, co-founder of the well-known Marmorosch Blank & Co bank (1864) along Iacob Marmorosch being one of the most important bankers of the late nineteenth century (i.e. the bank lent the Romanian state in the campaign for the War of Independence). Even though today Maurice Blank is remembered mainly for having built the famous headquarters of the bank on Doamnei Street and the Băneasa Forest mausoleum, the palace on Tudor Arghezi Street is undoubtedly an architectural jewel that will remain permanently in the Romanian history and culture.
Having a L-shaped design, 2.500 built square meters in the 50 rooms, and a generous garden decorated with pine trees and a fountain, the Maurice Blank palace became an architectural landmark for the residences located in the proximity of the University square.
In 1934 the palace was purchased by the lawyer and politician Eduard Mirto, who was the last rightful owner until the installation of the Communist regime. Eduard Mirto will initiate the links between the Blank Palace and the United States Embassy, renting the building in 1939 after some authorized renovation, consolidation and modernization works. He installed a system of centralized heating and plumbing extending the construction in the area of its secondary façade right on the verge of the outbreak of the Second World War. The US Embassy will remain there until 2011 when the building re-entered the private circuit as one of Bucharest’s architectural masterpieces.
Sources: Oana Marinache and Cristian Gache, „Louis Pierre Blanc. o planșetă elvețiană în serviciul României”, Istoria Artei publishing house, 2014
luni, 21 octombrie 2019
Mocioni -Teleki castle
An exponent of the architectural heritage left in the Banat area by the noble Macedonian Rumanian Mocioni family, the Căpâlnaș ensemble still talks today about the well-being and importance of this great family. The palace, a key component of the whole ensemble, is one of the first projects of the Viennese architect Otto Wagner. Designed with elegance, following the model of the Little Trianon in Versailles, the palace building is highlighted by the surrounding arboretum park and is served by the various annexes, forming thus the Mocioni ensemble of Căpâlnăş, one of the most remarkable noble ensembles of the nineteenth century in the Romanian extra-urban space.
Located in the heart of the 8-hectares park, the imposing silhouette of the palace stands out from the public space as being the perspective head of access - a beautiful alley bordered by trees. Marking the first stage of Otto Wagner's creation - the precursor period of the Secession style projects - that will consecrate the work of the Viennese architect - the Mocioni palace is built in a classicist eclectic spirit, inspired by the Little Trianon model of Versailles. The volume of the building is designed in a manner that is characteristic of the era and space of development of this architectural program, being compact and impressive, but not without grace. The architectural attributes of the palace are typically classical - axiality, symmetry, rhythm, registers, hierarchy - being used to talk about the noble status of the owners.
The interior constructive logic of the palace has at the functional scheme centre the library's hall, which hosted one of the most valuable private libraries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This room is located at the centre of gravity of the level of the building's ironing level and is covered, at the level of the floor and the roof, with two overlapping lights, which guarantee the need for natural light. At the ground floor, the library is preceded towards the main access by an honour hall and at the access from the park, by the vertical circulation node, dominated by an impressive staircase. Upstairs, above the library's room and around the first light well, there is a coursive that serves the various perimeter lounges.
From the point of view of treating the interior, a particular attention is paid to it. It is to be noticed the finishing’s colours play, the quality of the materials used, the richness of the decorative elements and the plastic subtlety of the accessories. The few lighting fixtures, the solid wood furniture and the still-preserved fireplaces attest the sumptuous image of the noble residence from its apogee era.
The park, an indispensable accessory for the modern extra-urban noble residence, is enhanced around the palace, both with the role of emphasizing the palace as a dominant architectural object, as well as completing the loisir function of these ensembles. The arboretum park of the Mocioni family in Căpâlnăş is composed from the ingenious articulation of two distinct landscaping areas. First, a semi-public garden of neoclassic feature, harmonized with the architectural style of the palace, is developed in its immediate vicinity and consists of two courtyards of honour that precede the main accesses in the building, planted with rare essences trees.
The second area, with a private character and designed in a romantic style, features abundant vegetation, sinuous alleys and a landscaped brook, and is far from the public space where it houses the funerary monuments of the Teleki family.
Căpâlnaș Domain came into the possession of the Mocioni family in 1853, when it was purchased by Ioan Mocioni de Feon from the Zichy family for 260,000 florins. The palace will be built only between 1876-1879 under the patronage of Ecaterina Mocioni - the daughter of Ioan Mocioni de Feon - and of her husband, Mihai Mocioni. The plans of the palace were drawn up in 1867 by the Viennese architect Otto Wagner, and the architect Kallina Mór was most likely responsible of the works execution, but also of the Mocioni familyț’s crypt, built on the Feoni estate.
The domain will be inherited by the sons of Mihai and Ecaterina Mocioni, Eugen and Alexandru Mocioni. The palace will be inhabited by Eugen Mocioni and his family - his wife, Therezia Horvath, and his five children - while his brother, Alexandru, will live in the palace in Birchiș. With a chosen education, passionate about classical music, the two brothers will organize numerous musical events at the Căpâlnaș residence. Theodor Botiș, the author of the Mocioni family Monograph, recalls: “In the Căpâlnaș Castle, where Eugen Mocioni's family lived, the daily and almost unique entertainment was music. During the days of reception, concerts of classical music were performed, using the two saloon pianos. But the concerts received an artistic brilliance mainly due to the Lady of the house, << Cocoana Terezia >> whose beautiful, colorful and well-groomed voice enchanted the guests. In fact, the whole personality of this woman had an unforgettable charm. "
After the sudden death of Eugen Mocioni, in 1901, Alexandru Mocioni will take care of the widow and the five minor children of his brother, whom he will have in charge until his death, in 1909.
The Palace of Căpâlnaș will then be inhabited by Therezia Mocioni and his daughter, Ecaterina Mocioni (1883-1959?) together with his husband, Count Jenő (Eugen) Teleki (1881-1947). The two will have two children, a girl who will die in a tragic accident, at the age of only 3 years and a son, Eugen "Bubi" Teleki.
In the 1930s, Căpâlnaș domain will be visited by English traveler Patrick Leigh Fermour, as part of his famous journey across Europe. He will include a broad description of the atmosphere of the palace and of the family of Count Teleki in Between the Woods and the Water, a book he will write a few decades later. Patrick Leigh Fermour recalls here, along with the numerous rare books in the palace library, the collection of butterflies of Count Teleki, a passionate entomologist.
Count Teleki died in 1947 and was buried in the palace park with to his daughter. A few months later, with the arrival of the communist regime, the entire domain will be nationalized and the family will be prohibited from visiting the domain and the graves. Both the library of the palace and the Count's butterfly collection were destroyed. The palace was emptied and transformed into a medical unit, which is still functioning today. The domain was relocated in 2000 to the heirs of Count Teleki.
drd. arch. Anca Majaru
hist. Irina Leca
Source: monumenteuitate.org
Located in the heart of the 8-hectares park, the imposing silhouette of the palace stands out from the public space as being the perspective head of access - a beautiful alley bordered by trees. Marking the first stage of Otto Wagner's creation - the precursor period of the Secession style projects - that will consecrate the work of the Viennese architect - the Mocioni palace is built in a classicist eclectic spirit, inspired by the Little Trianon model of Versailles. The volume of the building is designed in a manner that is characteristic of the era and space of development of this architectural program, being compact and impressive, but not without grace. The architectural attributes of the palace are typically classical - axiality, symmetry, rhythm, registers, hierarchy - being used to talk about the noble status of the owners.
The interior constructive logic of the palace has at the functional scheme centre the library's hall, which hosted one of the most valuable private libraries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This room is located at the centre of gravity of the level of the building's ironing level and is covered, at the level of the floor and the roof, with two overlapping lights, which guarantee the need for natural light. At the ground floor, the library is preceded towards the main access by an honour hall and at the access from the park, by the vertical circulation node, dominated by an impressive staircase. Upstairs, above the library's room and around the first light well, there is a coursive that serves the various perimeter lounges.
From the point of view of treating the interior, a particular attention is paid to it. It is to be noticed the finishing’s colours play, the quality of the materials used, the richness of the decorative elements and the plastic subtlety of the accessories. The few lighting fixtures, the solid wood furniture and the still-preserved fireplaces attest the sumptuous image of the noble residence from its apogee era.
The park, an indispensable accessory for the modern extra-urban noble residence, is enhanced around the palace, both with the role of emphasizing the palace as a dominant architectural object, as well as completing the loisir function of these ensembles. The arboretum park of the Mocioni family in Căpâlnăş is composed from the ingenious articulation of two distinct landscaping areas. First, a semi-public garden of neoclassic feature, harmonized with the architectural style of the palace, is developed in its immediate vicinity and consists of two courtyards of honour that precede the main accesses in the building, planted with rare essences trees.
The second area, with a private character and designed in a romantic style, features abundant vegetation, sinuous alleys and a landscaped brook, and is far from the public space where it houses the funerary monuments of the Teleki family.
Căpâlnaș Domain came into the possession of the Mocioni family in 1853, when it was purchased by Ioan Mocioni de Feon from the Zichy family for 260,000 florins. The palace will be built only between 1876-1879 under the patronage of Ecaterina Mocioni - the daughter of Ioan Mocioni de Feon - and of her husband, Mihai Mocioni. The plans of the palace were drawn up in 1867 by the Viennese architect Otto Wagner, and the architect Kallina Mór was most likely responsible of the works execution, but also of the Mocioni familyț’s crypt, built on the Feoni estate.
The domain will be inherited by the sons of Mihai and Ecaterina Mocioni, Eugen and Alexandru Mocioni. The palace will be inhabited by Eugen Mocioni and his family - his wife, Therezia Horvath, and his five children - while his brother, Alexandru, will live in the palace in Birchiș. With a chosen education, passionate about classical music, the two brothers will organize numerous musical events at the Căpâlnaș residence. Theodor Botiș, the author of the Mocioni family Monograph, recalls: “In the Căpâlnaș Castle, where Eugen Mocioni's family lived, the daily and almost unique entertainment was music. During the days of reception, concerts of classical music were performed, using the two saloon pianos. But the concerts received an artistic brilliance mainly due to the Lady of the house, << Cocoana Terezia >> whose beautiful, colorful and well-groomed voice enchanted the guests. In fact, the whole personality of this woman had an unforgettable charm. "
After the sudden death of Eugen Mocioni, in 1901, Alexandru Mocioni will take care of the widow and the five minor children of his brother, whom he will have in charge until his death, in 1909.
The Palace of Căpâlnaș will then be inhabited by Therezia Mocioni and his daughter, Ecaterina Mocioni (1883-1959?) together with his husband, Count Jenő (Eugen) Teleki (1881-1947). The two will have two children, a girl who will die in a tragic accident, at the age of only 3 years and a son, Eugen "Bubi" Teleki.
In the 1930s, Căpâlnaș domain will be visited by English traveler Patrick Leigh Fermour, as part of his famous journey across Europe. He will include a broad description of the atmosphere of the palace and of the family of Count Teleki in Between the Woods and the Water, a book he will write a few decades later. Patrick Leigh Fermour recalls here, along with the numerous rare books in the palace library, the collection of butterflies of Count Teleki, a passionate entomologist.
Count Teleki died in 1947 and was buried in the palace park with to his daughter. A few months later, with the arrival of the communist regime, the entire domain will be nationalized and the family will be prohibited from visiting the domain and the graves. Both the library of the palace and the Count's butterfly collection were destroyed. The palace was emptied and transformed into a medical unit, which is still functioning today. The domain was relocated in 2000 to the heirs of Count Teleki.
drd. arch. Anca Majaru
hist. Irina Leca
Source: monumenteuitate.org
luni, 14 octombrie 2019
Podgoreanu manor
Near the Pasărea Monastery there is one of the most important architectural monuments found in the proximity of Bucharest. I.D. Podgoreanu Mansion from Cozia, Ilfov, is located west of the Romanian capital, on the way to the aforementioned picturesque monastery. It is one of the oldest residences in the area, alongside the Blaremberg family mansion.
Totalling 9.000 sqm, the estate is dominated by the main massive brick building, made in 1910. The central hall, lit up by a stunning skylight, is the center of the 10 rooms and annexes, from where one can access the attic and the cellar/basement. The head of the Podgoreanu Family, Ioan Dimitrie, was, according to the estate plan drawn up in 1925, a bona fide landlord – he owned extensive lands, vineyards and other properties in the Piteasca - Cozieni – Pasărea area. According to the will written in 1912, his entire fortune was to be divided between his 5 children, which in fact happened in 1925.
After the transition to the communist regime and the nationalization process, the mansion was used as a school until the 2000s. 
Abonați-vă la:
Postări (Atom)
