Category: Urban

Categories: Bucharest, Romania, Urban Posted on

Alhambra Summer Theatre

Nestled between two towering, overgrown buildings in Bucharest, the Garden of Cinema Capitol is slowly suffocating. An oasis of tranquility, shaded by trees and threatened by crumbling plaster, the site is a heartbreaking symbol of neglect. It is a quiet reminder of a broader pattern, as it begins to share the same fate as the nearby Adevĕrul Palace. A pall of decay hangs over Constantin Mille Street, a stark indication of how time has not been kind to these historical landmarks. … Continue readingAlhambra Summer Theatre

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Grivița Railway Workshops

Grivița, a district in Bucharest, has witnessed significant transformation over the years, with its roots deeply entwined in the history of the Romanian railway industry. The area, as we know it today, developed around the CFR Workshops (Atelierele CFR Grivița), which were established in 1897. These workshops played a crucial role in the repair and maintenance of steam locomotives and passenger carriages, thus becoming a vital part of Romania’s industrial backbone. … Continue readingGrivița Railway Workshops

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The Basement of the Romanian Television Headquarters

The basement of the Romanian Television Headquarters is closely linked to rumors regarding the existence of a network of tunnels that, according to a well-developed plan, connected the bunkers of several strategic points across Bucharest. This plan was known as Plan Z, previously mentioned in other articles as operation “Rovine-IS-70” or “Plan Z,” designed for the evacuation of the Ceaușescu couple in case of extreme emergencies. … Continue readingThe Basement of the Romanian Television Headquarters

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FAUR Factories

S.C. “Faur” S.A. is an industrial complex located on the eastern outskirts of Bucharest, historically significant for its specialization in the manufacturing and repair of rolling stock. Commonly referred to as the “Faur” factories, the site has undergone several name changes throughout its existence, previously known as “Malaxa” and later as “23 August” during the communist era. … Continue readingFAUR Factories

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Bazilescu Summer Theatre

Nestled within the serene landscape of Bazilescu Park, the summer theatre stands as a silent witness to the grandiose ambitions and subsequent neglect of Bucharest’s cultural heritage. Designed by architect Paul Emil Miclescu, father of architect Sandu Miclescu, and erected in 1953 for the World Festival of Youth and Students, this imposing structure epitomizes the architectural ideals of socialist realism, a style that sought to convey the strength and magnificence of the totalitarian regime through the lens of classical aesthetics. The theatre was conceived as part of a broader urban vision, complementing the network of public amenities constructed along Bucureștii Noi Boulevard during the same period. … Continue readingBazilescu Summer Theatre

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The Laminor Hall of the Republica Pipe Factory

The construction of the Republica industrial complex on Basarabia Boulevard is credited to Romanian industrialist of Greek origin, Nicolae Malaxa. Starting in the 1920s, Malaxa developed workshops dedicated to the repair and production of locomotives. In 1921, he purchased land on the outskirts of Bucharest and established a locomotive repair workshop that bore his name. The project proved highly successful, leading to rapid expansion. By 1928, the first “Malaxa” locomotive was produced, followed by an additional hundred within five years. During the 1930s, Malaxa initiated new projects, including the Republica pipe factory. … Continue readingThe Laminor Hall of the Republica Pipe Factory

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Pe Turnul IFMA

Ceaușescu voia să verifice lifturile ce urmau să fie puse în Casa Poporului. Deoarece turnul de testat ascensoare din 1972 avea doar 37 de metri, tovarășul a dat ordin să se construiască un altul mai mare, cu 37 de metri mai înalt decât turnul nemților de la Schneider (cu înălțimea de 77 de metri). Lifturile din Casa Poporului urmau să circule prin niște puțuri foarte adânci deoarece coborau mult sub nivelul solului, în adăpostul antiatomic. … Continue readingPe Turnul IFMA

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Capela părăsită din Brașov

Lângă Teatrul Dramatic „Sică Alexandrescu” din orașul Brașov se află o capelă abandonată a Bisericii Romano-Catolice, construită în 1821 lângă un cimitir vechi din secolul al XIV-lea (1342). Odată cu construirea Teatrului Dramatic, o parte din cimitir a fost distrusă, iar dictatura comunistă a interzis îngropările. Astfel că, în 1987 morţii au fost deshumaţi şi aruncaţi într-o groapă comună din Cimitirul Municipal. Doar capela a supraviețuit, despre care se știe că avea amenajat un cavou în care erau îngropați edilii orașului. … Continue readingCapela părăsită din Brașov

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Pe acoperișul fostului sediu al Centrului de Informatică și Documentare

Un neavizat care a auzit sau aude pentru prima oară de Centrul de Informatică şi Documentare a D.S.S.-ului (Direcția Securității Statului), poate rămâne cu impresia falsă că el este doar un compartiment al D.G.T.O. (Direcția Generală Tehnico-Operativă). În realitate C.I.D.-ul era cel mai secret şi mai bine păzit instrument al Securităţii. Până la data de 22 Decembrie 1989, C.I.D.-ul ocupa etajul II şi III al blocului situat pe Calea Victoriei, lângă biserica Creţulescu şi era condus de Colonelul Nicolici. … Continue readingPe acoperișul fostului sediu al Centrului de Informatică și Documentare