Since yesterday I’ve showed you the National Bank building, it’s going to be easy to guess what is showing in today’s reflections.
Jan 262010
Jan 252010
The National Bank of Romania Palace is a massive building that occupies one city block in the Old Town (Historic Quarter), between the streets Lipscani and Doamnei, Smârdan and Eugen Carada. It sits on the site of one of the most famous buildings in Bucharest, Şerban Vodă Inn, which was located here between the years of 1678-1883. The bank building has two wings and today’s photo shows the new wing built during WWII after plans by architect Radu Dudescu assisted by a group of architects (I. Al. Davidescu, N. Creţoiu, Gh. Nichitovici and G. Vidraşcu). The building is in the Neo-Classical style with Corinthian columns on the facade and monumental granite stairs.
Jan 242010
Yes, I know my title sounds silly but I intended it sarcastically 🙂 The phrase doesn’t belong to me, it is in fact a quote. When our president, Traian Basescu, was the minister of Transportation he was asked by reporters about the measures he took to clean the roads that were blocked by heavy snow. In an attempt to find an excuse and make the reporters back off he replied “winter’s not like summer”. This phrase gained a “life of its own”, being repeated over and over and finding its place in the popular culture. A search for the phrase “iarna nu-i ca vara” on google comes up with 1.880.000 results. I don’t think that anyone needs convincing that “winter is not like summer”, but I thought I’ll illustrate this through today’s photographs which shows one of the two statues located in Carol Park and titled “The Giants”. This one was sculpted by Frederick Storck. I just happen to photograph it both in winter and summer and as you can clearly see from the two photographs “winter’s not like summer” 🙂
Jan 232010
This beautiful fountain is one of my favourite monuments in Bucharest and every time I find myself in Carol Park I make sure to pass by it. It was built in 1870 by George Grigore Cantacuzino who at the time was the mayor of Bucharest. This fountain replaced an older one, built in the 1792-1793 for tapping the water source that fed Filaret Hill. The older fountain deteriorated slowly and was demolished in 1863. The message written on the upper part of the fountain reads “This fountain was built in 1870 at the expense of the capital’s mayor, George Grigore Cantacuzino, following the vote by the municipal council of Bucharest held on August 8, 1869, when it was decided that the fountain will bear the name of George Grigore Cantacuzino Fountain”. The fountain, built in neoclassical style, is decorated with bass-reliefs representing medieval knights and coats of arms.
Jan 222010
A little further down the block lies another corner structure, equally interesting. This one is temporarily without a banner, but if you look closely you can spot the metal frame used for hanging the banners on the facade. Called SUN Apartment building, it was built in 1934 by architect Herman Clejan.
Jan 212010
I confess to be a fan of between the war architecture. I think you guessed that already, since this series has reached part 6. Modernist, Bauhaus, Art Deco, I like all the flavors and shapes. Maybe that’s why I like strolling on Boulevards Bălcescu and Magheru, despite the fact that they get the most traffic in Bucharest. Many of the buildings that line these boulevards were built in the 20s and 30s and from my point of view they are an architectural feast. I’ve already showed you one example of a Magheru building back in December and today’s photograph shows another one, “Creditul Minier” apartment building (Blocul Creditul Minier in Romanian), located on the corner of Bălcescu Bouvelard and Batiştei Street. It was built in 1937 by architect State Baloşin. I like its higher corner element and the way it is integrated in the structure. I also like its Art Deco balconies. For almost half a year I’ve tried to capture this building without a banner, but that proved to be mission impossible.
Jan 202010
You’ve been warned 🙂 Here comes another snow photo. One that comes with a warning 🙂 The hanging piece of paper reads “Beware!!! Snow and icicles falling”. As you can see my fellow citizens don’t seem to be taking the sign too seriously.
Jan 192010
I hope my dear visitors that you’re not already bored by my snow photos. This winter is proving to be one with a lot of snow so there are even more snow photos coming your way. Of couse I could post photos from my personal archive, taken last summer or last fall but it feels a bit weird to be showing clear blue skies and sunny weather when the city is all dressed in white. Besides, I like the city covered in snow. It’s been snowing since yesterday, calmly at first, more heavily today. Everybody’s been complaining about the state of the roads but I have to say that I’ve seen quite a few snow plows on the streets of Bucharest. Two of them are the stars of today’s photo.
Jan 182010
Out of the four statues in the University Square, the one in today’s photograph is the one that seems to agree by far with the square’s pigeons. In fact, the last few times I passed through the square there were no pigeons on any of the other three statues. The statue is that of Spiru Haret (February 15, 1851 – December 17 1912), mathematician, astronomer, professor and politician, who served as the Minister of Education three terms and brought reforms that helped build the Romanian education system. The statue is by Ion Jalea and was placed in the square in 1935.
Jan 172010
These are the iron wrough gates of the Athenaeum park. I just thought they look nice.