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Palace of
Parliament
It is massive. It is overwhelming.
Anyone viewing the building for the first time will be quick to
offer an opinion. It is certainly controversial, and people tend
to despise or praise it for a plethora of reasons. Despite passions
or debate, however, this disputed building will clearly dominate
the Bucharest skyline for years to come.
Today there is widespread discussion suggesting the building will
find its way into the Guinness Book of World Records. It is the
second-largest building in the world (330,000 m2), after the Pentagon
in Washington DC. Regarding cubic volume (2,550,000 m3) it ranks
with Mexico's Quetzalcoatl pyramid. It also surpasses the pyramid
of Keops by 2%. The gigantic reception halls have been compared,
in size alone, to the columns of Luxor. Within such incredible space,
the human body seems dwarfed to that of an insect. Overall a team
of nearly 700 architects conceived plans for this 900-room building.
Its main entrance, one of four, faces Unirii Boulevard. It cuts
through that downtown Bucharest thoroughfare like an axel. It was
scheduled to be called "The Victory of Socialism" . Actual
planning began in 1980, and by 1982 a systematic strategy of demolition
was already in progress.
People are always overwhelmed by enormous buildings. The Palace
of Parliament in Bucharest is a prime example.
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Architects, engineers, specialists in fine arts and interior decorators
combined their talents and efforts to create this 330000 square
meter modern three register building.
Let's take a journey through some of the most interesting parts
of this one-of-a-kind building. "Alexandru Ioan Cuza Hall"
stretches out to cover more than 2,000 square meters; its imposing
18 m high ceiling is adorned with exquisite ornaments fashioned
in gold. Almost equal in size," Unity Hall" is distinguished
by its magnificent carved white marble columns from Ruschita.
The room itself, inaugurated on the fifth anniversary of the '89
Revolution, included new improvements consisting of ornaments
carved in mahogany, cherry and aluminum mould for the ceiling
itself. All of this was enhanced with draperies and embroidered
curtains, including carpets weighing 14 tons.
"Nicolae Balcescu Hall" reveals something of the romantic
personality of this 1848 historian and revolutionary personality.
His death came at an early age in Palermo, Italy, where he was
buried. Spiru Haret, the world famous scholar, is honoured, too,
by a hall that bears his name. ; it is today used primarily for
international press conferences.
The I. C. Bratianu Hall (covering 1260 m), conceived in the Renaissance
style of the Brancoveanu epoch, is located on the ground floor
of the building. Located between two inner-yards, it bears the
name of this charismatic pre-second world war figure who descended
from a family of liberal politicians.
"The Human Rights Hall”, covers 625 meters and is dominated
by a huge chandelier and an oak-carved table seating sixty people.
Another hall in the Palace of Parliament is dedicated to Nicolae
Iorga, a brilliant Romanian historian.
“Nicolae Titulescu” is the name assigned to another elegant hall
designated for official meetings. Titulescu had been a famous
Romanian diplomat and orator; he served two terms as President
of the League of Nations. The room dedicated to his name features
Ruschita marble, Louis XV furniture and Alba Iulia silver, porcelain
and copper, all of which add to the distinguished, cozy atmosphere
of this unusual room.
In addition, the Palace of Parliament reveals something remarkable
on its Southern side. The floors are made of Greek ornaments inspired
by mosaics discovered in the ancient citadel of Histria."
The Gallery of Honor" consists of three rooms, divided by
gliding doors made of oak. |
