TRADITIONAL NEO-ROMANIAN ARCHITECTURE

Neo-Romanian or Neo-Brâncovenesc is an original architectural style that emerged in Romania in late 19th century. Some inspired architects took on the Brâncovenesc style from the 17th century and adapted it to newer times. It is a blend between Byzantine elements (the columns, the short arcade, the exuberant colors and ornamentation), Oriental shapes, the Italian Renaissance (the small Romanian peasant porches looked more like the loggias) and Baroque patterns. The first promoter of this style was architect Ion Mincu who studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He came back to Romania and began using in his projects traditional elements like carved wood or stone and Brâncoveanu floral style patterns with its Renaissance and Baroque influences. Until the 1920’s, the Neo-Romanian style went through many evolving stages influenced by Parisian or Mediteranean design to more modernist styles like Art Deco. The evolution was ended in 1947 by the communists who had their own architectural vision as we all know by now. Please see below some examples of such buildings who are now museums, restaurants, public administration institutions or just villas.