Planning Capital Cities

Shifts. A brief history of public plazas in central Bucharest

the plaza was lost, but a better accessibility ensured. The partial demolition

was just a step away from the desired plan^4 to turn this central area into a

representative centre: all market halls and commercial functions were to be

completely removed, and replaced by more respectable ones, such as the

National Opera House, on the northern side, and the People’s Cathedral, on

the south bank. All existing urban fabric was to be shielded off with blocks.

Third Period, 1947-1989

The third investigated period lied under the political and cultural influence

of soviet principles, thoroughly implanted over a very brief amount of time.

Once more for Bucharest’s history, the cut with the prior interval was precise,

but also violent: both political and cultural shifts denied all validity of previous

values and conducts, expanding to the use and shape of urban space and

architectural expression.

Fig. 11
The Victoriei Square plan,
1974 – still a transit plaza,
geometrically organized to suit
traffic. The new ministerial
building is formally aligned to
the square but has no functional
or representative relationship
with it whatsoever.
(Duda)