The Hidden Gem

Abstract

Timisoara is an important city situated in the westernmost corner of Romania. Its historic core was until late XIXth century a heavily defended citadel. The Great Synagogue in the Citadel, inaugurated by the Emperor Franz Josef I, is one of the most spectacular buildings of the city. A centrally shaped and domed building, enveloped in “moorish-andalusian” decorated façade, stands out for both the civic dignity of the newly emancipated Jewish community (1865), and its desire to integrate in the modern society. The beautifully ornamented massive brick building, covered by a central skylighted dome and surrounded by vaulted aisles also contains two exceptional wooden structures: the interior balconies including the orgue balcony and the roof structure over the vaults. Both are functional as well as ornamental, structurally and geometrically sophisticated and displaying high levels of craftsmanship. The ongoing project for the restoration of the Synagogue and its conversion into an auditorium revealed the complexities of the wooden structures – the lightweight and delicate balconies were able to sustain hundreds of worshippers for more than a century: the complex roofing system, stretched between the exterior tympans, the skylight of the dome and the exterior profile of the vaults, display elegance and minimalism. Both structures withstood the test of time, neglect and constant seismic activities. Maintaining these structures according to contemporary safety and risk management standards proved to be both a challenging and a rewarding opportunity.