Expected and Unexpected Authorship of Religious Elements in Late Nineteenth, Early Twentieth Century Bucharest Architecture
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Authors
Waldman, Felicia
Issue Date
2019
Volume
19
Issue
Type
Journal Article
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Abstract
The hodge-podge architectural heritage is among Bucharest’s most unique attractions, a result of the multicultural background of those who contributed to its modernization. In this respect, a paramount role was played by Jewish and Armenian architects, who designed emblematic buildings that still constitute today landmarks of the Romanian capital, but also businessmen who commissioned private mansions and public utility edifices (hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc.) that transformed the city. From the nineteenth century onwards, and particularly in the interwar period, Bucharest was a crossroad of civilizations, where East met West, and various ethnic and religious groups coexisted. The best exemplification of this outstanding circumstance is the fact that during this time Christian architects designed not only churches, as one would expect, but also synagogues; while Jewish craftsmen decorated not only synagogues, but also churches. Moreover, Jewish businessmen commissioned Armenian architects to design their houses and decorate them with Armenian religious symbols. The article brings to light several of the more interesting cases, demonstrating the complexity of religious presence in Bucharest’s architectural legacy.|Keywords: religion, churches, synagogues, identity, architecture, heritage, Bucharest, Jewish history, Armenian history
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Citation
Waldman, F. (2019). Expected and Unexpected Authorship of Religious Elements in Late Nineteenth, Early Twentieth Century Bucharest Architecture. Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society Supplement Series, 19, 38-50.
Publisher
Rabbi Myer and Dorothy Kripke Center, Creighton University
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ISSN
1941-8450