Art Deco garden gate

Art Deco garden gate, mid-1930s, Bucharest (©Valentin Mandache)

A simple, but well proportioned gate from the Art Deco era, in tone with its surroundings, giving access to the small garden adjacent to a mid 1930s apartment house from the Mantuleasa area of Bucharest.

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I endeavor through this series of daily articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.

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If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing the property, specialist research, planning permissions, restoration project management, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.

Description of 1900s Bucharest in The Catholic Encyclopaedia

I would like to recommend a very fitting description of Bucharest at about 1905 in the Catholic Encyclopaedia, written by someone obviously skilled in snapping the essence of a place in just a few sentences, who probably was a first time visitor to the city and thus had the advantage of a fresh eye observer:

The city is situated in a swampy plain on both sides of the Dimbobitza which is here crossed by about a dozen bridges. It is noted for many stately edifices, and the semi-Oriental appearance of its older quarters is heightened by the numerous gardens and the bright domes of its Greek churches.

Source: The Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03045a.htm