In 1852, Barbu Știrbei, the reigning prince of Wallachia, fervently invited the sisters of the Beatae Mariae Virginis Institute from Munich to establish a girls’ school in Bucharest, the capital of the country. Six years later, an elite institution was inaugurated: St. Mary’s Catholic School. … Continue readingThe Forgotten School of St. Mary
I recently explored an abandoned library in a town near the Danube. Built in the mid-19th century, the building initially served as an educational institution for girls, run by a group of women dedicated to education and academic discipline. … Continue readingDusty Library
On a quiet street in Bucharest, tucked away behind towering trees and shielded from the city’s relentless noise, stands an old house with a long-forgotten past. Built at the end of the 19th century, this architectural relic once served as the headquarters of the Health Insurance House of Bucharest (CASMB). For years, it was a place where people sought medical guidance and bureaucratic solutions. Today, however, it is a shadow of its former self—a haunting reminder of neglect and decay. … Continue readingHealth Insurance House of Bucharest
During my urban exploration in Bucharest, I came across a site consisting of abandoned garages, warehouses, and auto workshops, constructed during the communist era. These structures exhibited signs of decay and neglect, reflecting their disuse over the years. The worn-out appearance of the buildings and rusting machinery offered a glimpse into the industrial past of the area. … Continue readingAbandoned Garages and Auto Workshops
Un palazzo venețian își anunță sfârșitul pe strada Temișana nr 2-4. În pofida degradării vizibile, ca un oftat, clădirea emană un aer aparte de bijuterie urbană de început de secol XX. În ultima perioadă, clădirea nu a căzut pe mâini bune. Mai multe surse consideră că acestă amintire a fost casa în care a locuit Luigi Cazzavillan. Însă alte surse spun că e improbabil deoarece autorizația construirii casei a fost obținută cu doar doi ani înainte ca acesta să moară. … Continue readingPalatul venețian
Every city has a mysterious and unseen side, a part hidden beneath the bustling and noisy surface of the main streets and modern buildings. This unseen part is made up of abandoned places, ruins, and derelict buildings, left to deteriorate and transform into a mix of beauty and decay. … Continue readingUnseen Wonders: Exploring the Hidden Spaces of the City
I often discover rare and impressive treasures in my explorations. One of them is a life-size marble statue signed by Henri Louis Levasseur, a French sculptor best known for his Art Nouveau depictions of historic and mythological figures. His sculptures are composed in a realistic manner, often including painstakingly detailed, draped fabrics that appear to be captured mid-movement. … Continue readingMarble statue signed by H. Levasseur
In 2022, several foreigners who participated in the urban exploration tour had the chance to visit the Omnia Hall in Bucharest, an important cultural objective due to the history it had, but especially the course it will take. This place, which hosted the meetings of the Central Committee of the Romanian Communist Party, the Romanian Senate and, later, the “Ion Dacian” National Operetta Theatre, is now under the administration of the Bucharest National Dance Center, which intends to transform the Omnia Hall into a dance house. … Continue readingThe Omnia Hall through the eyes of visitors
Spațiile abandonate sunt un loc propice manifestărilor artistice urbane precum street-art. Deși ascunse privirilor celor mulți, mesajele din spatele personajelor cyberpunk desenate de Robert OBERT într-o fabrică de bere abandonată prind ecou în spațiul urban, făcând trimitere la un viitor distopic rezultat din alterarea formei umane actuale. Mai jos, un interviu cu artistul. … Continue readingProfeții Urbani | Interviu cu Robert OBERT
La sfârșitul secolului al XIX-lea, negustorul Dumitru Marinescu Bragadiru a cumpărat un teren de 70.000 mp în apropierea centrului Bucureștiului, pe calea Rahovei. El și-a investit banii făcuți din afacerile cu spirt și alcool rafinat din timpul Războiului de Independență în construirea unei fabrici de bere. Toate clădirile industriale ce formau fabrica, palatul și casele din vecinătate au fost proiectate în 1894 de firma germană din Erfurt „J.A.T.OPF și SOHNE”, avându-l ca arhitect pe Anton Schuckerl. … Continue readingFabrica de bere Bragadiru