in order to diminish pedestrian presence nearby administrative buildings. The
result of both was to deprive the public of its space.
University square got its third level of shift implemented in 1973, with the
construction of the neighbouring Intercontinental Hotel, the highest building
at the time, and the National Theatre^7. Both buildings were monumental in
scale, self-referencing, and, confusingly enough, of almost equivalent force: the
physical presence of the tower made up for the important and representative
function of the theatre. The plaza they shared remained though stranded,
claimed by none, since the buildings did not interact: they did not share the
same public.
Condensing all three shifts into one, the major victim of the communist
period was Unirii Plaza. Althoug its transformation started with Charles II, it
managed to keep its main function active and attractive enough to generate
its own public. Accessibility improved with the covering of the river banks,
even if its close physical relationship with it disappeared. It is between 1976-
1986 that major works were undertaken to completely reshape the plaza^8. The
commercial function was trasferred to a general store, built on its eastern side,
while the Market Hall and its neighbouring historical context was demolished
as part of creating a new monumental axis leading to the Palace of the People.
The remaining urban fabric was shielded with continuous lines of blocks, of
Fig. 14
University Square received
the adjoining Theatre Square,
determined by two new
object-like buildings: the
National Theatre and the
Intercontinental Hotel (plan of
1974).
(Duda)Maria Duda