Neo-Romanian roof finials shaped as steam train smoke stacks

The finials adorning the roofs ends of the Neo-Romanian style house are some of the most spectacular elements of this architectural style. They come in a diversity of shapes from those resembling hay stacks to medieval weapons or ethnographic totemic poles. During a visits last year to Sinaia, I found the very unusual finial examples presented in the photographs bellow, which adorn the monumental Neo-Romanian style train station of this famous Romanian mountain resort from the southern slopes of the Transylvanian Alps. Their shape resemble that of the steam train smoke stack, a very usual sight in the late 1920s when the main section of the railway station has been built (I believe the architect is Paul Smarandescu, but some of my readers may know better about that and look forward for their opinion)

Neo-Romanian style roof finial shaped as steam train smoke stack, Sinaia train station (©Valentin Mandache)

Neo-Romanian style roof finials shaped as steam train smoke stack, Sinaia train station (©Valentin Mandache)

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I endeavour through this daily 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.

Photomontage and slideshow of Neo-Romanian Roof Finials

 

Photomontage of Neo-Romanian style finials adorning Bucharest inter-war houses. (©Valentin Mandache)

 

The roof finials are eye catching ornamental features at the top of a pointed roof, also representing an important value added architectural element that deserves full attention when undertaking a renovation or restoration project. These artefcats are some of the most conspicuous elements from among the decorative panoply of the Neo-Romanian architectural style, often displaying very peculiar or even spectacular designs. Their main source of inspiration are the similar decorative structures present in the church and  mosque architecture encountered in the Ottoman Balkans and also from peasant house roof decorative motifs. I made the photomontage above from forty five images of diverse finials which I found throughout Bucharest. Previously I also wrote a very popular article about the value of the Neo-Romanian style roof finials, accessible by clicking here.

Bellow is a sideshow containing all of the above finials, I hope you will enjoy them!

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

***********************************************

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.

Bird Friendly Neo-Romanian Roof Finial

Neo-Romanian style roof finial, Stirbei Voda area, Bucharest. (©Valentin Mandache)

As today is 1 April with its jokes and light atmosphere, I thought that a more amusing architectural theme photograph would be a good complement to this day’s usual spirit. The image above captures one of the “practical” uses of a Neo-Romanian style roof finial: as a bird perch - observation post, certainly very much appreciated by the gull crowning its top. The bird was definitely keeping a close watch on me while I snapped the image; I was able to see his piercing eye directed at the camera lenses while at full zoom. Probably he/she thought that I have a shotgun instead of a camera . See my (serious) article about the beautiful Neo-Romanian style roof finials and their architectural value- click the link here.

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

***********************************************

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.

Daily Image 27-Jan-10: Elaborate Neo-Romanian Roof Finial

A superlative Neo-Romanian style roof finial on a house dating from mid 1920s. The design is inspired from the shape of tiled roof towers of Byzantine style churches from Southern Romania. Stirbei Voda area, Bucharest. (©Valentin Mandache)

I wrote some months ago an article entitled “The Finials of Neo-Romanian Style Houses” (click link for access) in which I described the particular significance of this ornamental structure for the decorative register of the Neo-Romanian architectural order. The elegant finial in the image above, which I photographed in a bright summer day last year, is one of the more elaborate such examples, with a design inspired from the ceramic tiled tower/ cupola roof of Romanian Orthodox churches from the province of Wallachia.

***********************************************

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

***********************************************

If you plan acquiring a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in locating 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.