“Identity” in the approach of architecture and urbanism during the socialist-communist period in Romania

Horia Mihai-Coman

doi:10.54508/julp.05.01

Abstract

“Identity” in the approach of architecture and urbanism during the socialist-communist period in Romania

Highlights

IntroductionIdeological and economical aspects profoundly dominated the programmatic set of priorities that influenced the urban projects that were carried out in the cities of Romania during the socialist-communist era (circa 19441989), the element of “identity” was present and influential (both in reasoning, discourse, intention and practice)
The political, ideological and economical aspects profoundly dominated the programmatic set of priorities that influenced the urban projects that were carried out in the cities of Romania during the socialist-communist era, the element of “identity” was present and influential
Remarkable are the stylisations of some architectural elements and motifs that are being selected from the vocabulary of traditional architecture and praised for their specificity to Romanian architecture: such as the image of traditional wooden joints and the typical “dovetail” notching that are being transposed into concrete in many of the works of arch

Summary

Introduction

Ideological and economical aspects profoundly dominated the programmatic set of priorities that influenced the urban projects that were carried out in the cities of Romania during the socialist-communist era (circa 19441989), the element of “identity” was present and influential (both in reasoning, discourse, intention and practice). The 1980s generalised drive for demolition in the central areas of many cities (including Bucharest, Iași or Craiova) bears an arguably strong identitary valence, this period is probably easier to be interpreted, at least at a first glance, as arguably lacking in terms of “identitary concerns” (as it neglects the identitary relevance and value of some extensive urban fragments) In this situation, the identitary dimension can be found (at least partially) within the political desire to boast impressive new buildings and large urban ensembles for reasons of propaganda, as expressions of the so-called “triumph” of socialism. It’s (at least partially) a question of political rhetoric that’s being expressed in built form, but it’s a question of expressing a new identity that often goes in contradiction (or contrast) with the embedded identity of the pre-existing urban image

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