The house of the Eliade family, from architectural gem to ruin. How much is the historical building in Bucharest for sale
The house of the Eliade family, considered at the beginning of the 20th century a real architectural “jewel” in the Capital, has reached an advanced state of decay in recent years, being inhabited by street people. It was recently put up for sale.
Pomoiliu Eliade House. Photo by Urbanexploration2021. Reddit
Over a century old, but in an advanced state of decay, the house of the Eliade family was put up for sale at the price of 1.3 million euros through real estate agencies.
The building – monument, put up for sale
The monument building in the Capital, in need of renovation, has a built area of 260 sqm and an open area of 560 sqm. It has a basement, ground floor, one floor and attic, with a tiled roof, and also has a kitchen and three terraces, with a total area of 29 square meters. The street front measures 61 meters, and the land available is almost 1,000 square meters.
“Casa Pompiliu Eliade, completed in 1907, is a remarkable example of Art Nouveau architecture. Designed by Henry Baron de Susskind after designs by BP Hașdeu, the house was inhabited by Pompiliu Eliade, an important literary historian and director of the National Theatre. Its design recalls Iulia Hasdeu's castle in Câmpina, combining romantic elements with Wagnerian influences”. notes casapompiliueliade.ro, the website dedicated to it.
The residential building was built on the Independence Square near Cișmigiu Park, the National Opera and the Old Town.
“The house on the quay witnessed a life dedicated to art and science. After Eliade's passing, the house went through various transformations, temporarily becoming a student dormitory and housing for political and legal figures. Later, the house was sold to the magistrate Anton Rădulescu, and from 1946 it was shared with various tenants imposed by the communist regime, and is currently privately owned. Its unique architecture, with Art Nouveau details and ornaments inspired by nature, makes the Pompiliu Eliade House a cultural and historical landmark in Bucharest”, show the presentation.
The unique house in the Capital
Pompiliu Eliade (1869, Bucharest – 1914) was a literary historian and professor of French, member of the Romanian Athenaeum and corresponding member of the Romanian Academy since May 21, 1912.
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Eliade House Photo Urbanexploration2021 Reddit (1) jpg
In 1908, when Pompiliu Eliade was running the national theater in Bucharest, the house where he lived, located on the street then called Apolon Nou, was described as follows, in Viitorul newspaper:
“The house of Mr. Pompiliu Eliade is not counted, it is without a pair. In fact, from the beginning, the building attracts the attention of the passerby by its style, or rather by its mixture of styles. It is an irregular, strange pairing of lines of all kinds, which in their entirety, however, give an impression of unusual harmony, resulting from the artistic fusion of today's style with an earlier style. The impression obtained looking at the exterior of this elegant buildings is enhanced by the view of the interior. This interior, made up of a much larger number of rooms than I would have suspected, is a real gem. The way they are built, as well as the type of furniture, especially attracted my attention.” informed the publication.
French influence
Pompiliu Eliade was the brother of the paternal grandfather of the historian Mircea Eliade, so the name of the Pompiliu Eliade house was associated with his.
“The Mircea Eliade House, known as the Pompiliu Eliade House, is an emblematic place in Bucharest. It was the family home of Mircea Eliade, one of the most important Romanian writers and philosophers of the 20th century. The Pompiliu Eliade House remains an important cultural and spiritual landmark, reminding of Mircea Eliade's invaluable contribution to Romanian and universal literature and thought”. notes a real estate agency in the sale ad.
Inhabited in recent years by street people
Images of the building in a dilapidated state sparked debate on social media. Some locals recall that its last occupants were street people, who contributed greatly to the destruction that afflicted it.
“Bosketchers were here until relatively recently,” says a Bucharest resident on Reddit, after photographing her and publishing images of her on the social network, under the name Urbanexploration2021.
He adds that “the whole area is littered with practically abandoned buildings, but well closed, with sensors, cameras, some with guards, etc.”
People who occupied it abusively were kicked out of the house four or five years ago, recalls another Bucharest resident.
“I was there when the gendarmes took them out, with all the scandal. Honestly, I have no problem with anyone staying in old houses like this, as long as they keep it up and don't throw trash everywhere. I'll never understand that. Isn't it in your best interest to keep it clean and try to maintain the place you're staying in?”he asks himself.
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In recent years, several local residents have complained about the situation in which the building on Independence Street had reached.
“Usually I try not to throw metaphorical stones at the squatters, but they really were a mess. I remember staring at that building when I first came to Bucharest and the squatters were inside. It was flying in my head I don't know what thing someone threw there. I was on the sidewalk, I wasn't looking over the fence or something. I think they were randomly throwing trash or something. Since then I avoided going in there. Others street people, however, are good and you can get along with them”, says a Bucharest resident.
Someone else reported that the building had been occupied by homeless people for over 20 years.
“You should have seen them getting drunk and defecating on the sidewalk. You should have seen them throw stones at cars. I have nothing against anyone, but they were animals, not people. I hope they got somewhere where they could get the help they need.” add this one.
Other Romanians appreciate the building's past appearance, even if they admit that such an investment is far beyond their means.
“I'm sure it was a gem in its time. Since high school, I've also been fond of photography and I've been walking around the neighborhoods taking pictures of different houses and marveling at what I could find in the streets. Unfortunately, I can't even afford to buy them, let alone renovate them according to the architectural style (as it should be), but I really hope someone will be found.” says a local woman.
