Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

The imposing villa, a historical category B monument, was built at the beginning of the 20th century, after the plans of architect Dimitrie Maimarolu (1869-1926). The residence designed in eclectic style, characteristic of the epoch, preserves to this day notable architectural elements: door canopy at the main entrance, stained glass windows, monumental interior staircase made of oak. The land was purchased in 1897 by Vladimir G. Athanasovici - lawyer and liberal senator (1864-1928). The construction was completed in 1911 and has gone through various renovations, modifications and consolidations during a timeline of more than one hundred years. The Athanasovici family was part of the great bourgeoisie of the epoch. Dr. George Athanasovici (1822-1892) was the first forensic physician of the capital and founded in 1857 with Carol Davila the National School of Medicine in Bucharest. His son, Vladimir, studied law in Paris and in 1888 joined the Bucharest Bar, later becoming a state lawyer and a government commissioner at the Rural House.

Architect Dimitrie Maimarolu (1859-1926) was trained in France and signed emblematic buildings in Bucharest: the Palace of the Chamber of Deputies (today the Patriarchate Palace), the Palace of the National Military Circle, the Saint Silvester Church, the Armenian Cathedral (the Armenian Church), the Concordia Hotel. He was a founding member of the Society of Architects of Romania, member of the Polytechnic Society and architect of the Historical Monuments Commission. The ensemble from 39 Bati?tei street is composed of two buildings: the main body with four levels (basement, ground floor, mezzanine floor and attic), with a footprint of 539.71 sqm; the secondary body with two levels (ground floor and floor), with a footprint of 132.6 sqm. The main building has a showroom and a secured room for valuables located at the basement of the building. After 2000, the building housed the Cultural Center of the Hungarian Republic.

The villa is today in a good condition, preserving entirely its valuable elements: the interior monumental staircase, the stained glass elements of the windows and the illuminator, the stuccoes and the frames of the doors and windows, the stuccoes and the decorative elements of the ceilings, the wrought iron cover of the main access door, the ornaments on the facade. The electrical, sanitary, heating and envelope elements of the roof coverings were completely replaced. The generous courtyard is divided into a green space organized as a garden and parking lot covered with cubic stone. The land of 1,264 sqm has a double opening, 32 ml on Bati?tei street and 36 ml on Aron Florian street. „ResidenceAthanasoviciis typical for a hôtel particulier at the turn of the 19th century, created in eclectic fashion with classical elements, in a residential area of the Bucharest elites.” Dr.Oana Marinache, researcher andart historian

Through its location, history and architectural details, Athanasovici villa from 39 Bati?tei street represents a construction of great value, a significant part of the immovable cultural heritage of Romania and an expression of a bygone way of life. Sources: e-architecture.ro arhivadearhitectura.ro Photo:Gabriel Ghizdavu