Luxury houses for sale Balotești, Romania (page 2)

In Bățanii Mici, a village located between Bățanii Mari and Herculian, in the Baraolt depression, there is this intimate mansion - an elegant and solid building, well maintained, with a high ground floor and a fence matching the stone of the property. Set back from the street, surrounded by a lawned courtyard and a generous paved area, the building impresses with its entrance under a portico with majestic, classicizing columns. The facade is exquisitely decorated with elegant boxes showing plant elements and fine window frames. The annex also has a special charm with its exposed brick façade and discreetly carved reddish wood pillars. Inside, the rooms are spacious and bright, what impresses is the huge library - the mansion belongs to the daughter of Elek Benedek, publicist, writer, educator, creator of Hungarian children's literature and collector of Szekler folklore.

The buildings in the Old Center incite, attract, tempt; we stare at the facades trying to take in everything with our eyes and hope that a heavy door opens, a window with the curtain drawn to see, understand, discern the mystery of these merchant houses that make up the Old City. At number 27 is one of these, large and stylish enough to attract attention and give rise to curiosities. Its French-influenced facade features the typical first-floor wide wrought-iron balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, and false balconies/balustrades on the second floor. The attic has elegant arched protective gables. The ground floor is a commercial space – traces of the bar can still be seen and echoes of recent laughters can be heard. It is a high space, about 92 square meters; an additional level was built on its side. On the upper floors there are rooms and bathrooms - on the 1st floor we find 6 rooms of 8-30 sqm and 5 bathrooms; the 2nd floor has 6 rooms with surfaces between 7 and 32 m plus 5 sanitary groups and passage spaces. The high and functional bridge measures 391 sq m. Each floor has its own individual cadastral number. The basement also adds ample space, the function of which remains to be explored through the lens of current regulations. There is also an inner courtyard. The apartments are accessed through a separate entrance from that of the commercial space. The building requires repair and renovation and can be converted into an apart-hotel, residential units or space for commercial and cultural activities. An old street of the city, Smârdan street appeared in the 17th century, being known a century later as Uliţa Târgului din Năuntru, then in the 19th century as The bridge that goes from the Old Court to the Şerban Vodă Inn, German or German Street It was called Smârdan after the war of independence. Not far from the property, at number 39, was the old Hotel Concordia in whose room 5 Alexandru Ioan's double election was decided on January 23, 1859. In the villa at number 27 we know that in 1927 Anette Horoviceanu was making haute couture creations parisiennes and in 1938 the Gla Company operated Trade ind. and the representative Electrical items, offices, Electro-Technical - Electrotechnical, enterprises; Romanian Technical Warehouse - Technical Offices, Company Flă. Ind. and Rep. Central heating. Sources: https://turistinbucurestiro.blogspot.com/2014/02/strada-smardan.html Photo: Tudor Prisecaru.

The French Street connects Piata Unirii with Calea Victoriei; it appears in documents since 1649 when it was known as Curții Street; over time the name varies - one part of it was Podul cel Mare din Curtea Veche (1763), Podul Curtea Veche (1804) and Uliţa Curții Vechi (1854), the other - Uliţa cea Domnească in 1690 or Işlicarilor & Boiangiilor Street in 1804. Under Constantin Brâncoveanu the street becomes as long as we know it today. The French name comes from the time when the French consul resided on it. The street was also called Carol until 1947 and then 30th December. After the 1989 revolution, it became Iuliu Maniu and since 2007, when a boulevard was named after the politician, it has become French Street again. It is one of the first lit and paved streets in the city, but also the one that entered history as the place where the great fire of 1847 started, when over 2000 buildings disappeared; the fire broke out thanks to the son of a stolnic (local clerk) who played by shooting his father's gun into the thatched attic. On this historic street, at no. 58, in 1938, Schrems Broderie, a weaver, and Karmann I – Carol, a dentist, were operating (it seems that Lev Tolstoi lived at no. 12 in 1854 when accompanying the Russian troops to Wallachia). Today, at no. 58, there is an elegant building with tall glass sheets and wrought iron balustrades that rhythmically punctuate the facade; denticles, short half-columns and other vegetal and geometric elements complete it. The building has two commercial spaces on the ground floor and 14 apartments on the upper floors, with areas between 38-113 sqm. The attic (384 sqm) and the cellar (211 sqm) generously complement the surfaces. Access is allowed by four different stairs leading to the inner courtyard. Only one apartment is currently rented, the building being in need of repair and renovation works. The original corner stoves, paneling on the ceilings and double doors with glass windows are the only ones still fighting the fading today, stubbornly preserving the spirit of past eras. However, the potential is huge considering the positioning one minute away from the Manuc Inn; the building can become a boutique/apart-hotel or apartments for rent/resale, after consolidation. Photo: Tudor Prisecaru

Innovative concept of vertical urban living, with minimalist architecture. The „Georgia” Townhouse is part of a residential project that brings urban regeneration to front. The concept of this residential project integrates modern architecture in an urban landscape where the French influence architectural styles, such as the classicized eclectic and the later emerged Art Deco intertwine. If we were to transpose this cosy villa into the scent of a perfume, it would be named Belle. The enclave created by the layout of the project resembles a small intimate entrance, characteristic of the streets in the ultra-central area of the Capital. The project, authorized and with a completion date for the second part of 2024, will include 5 townhouse type villas with spaces designed to surprise with utility and provide the necessary comfort for an urban and dynamic lifestyle. The attention to detail is found in every aspect and is the mark of a developer and architects with numerous projects, that decorate the city with splendid modern facets of the new Little Paris. The previous projects are appreciated and built to high standards, both in terms of the quality of the execution and the materials used, as well as through the characteristics that meet the demands of European standards for new residential buildings. The design of this project includes intimate private terraces and gardens, large glazed spaces that make light abound in rooms arranged with an unusual sense of space. The underground parking lots, with individual access to each of the houses, complete the landscape of a modern home. The villa`s layout can also transform it into a multi-family building, having two distinct external access stairs, which go up from the veranda area both to the ground floor and to the first level. One of the assets of this property is the intimate terrace designed on the 1st floor which will also have a future summer kitchen, delightful for the hot summer nights. The Georgia townhouse villa can be purchased completed at the grey stage, for the price of 620,500 euros, plus VAT, or with the interior finishes completed, at the price of 650,700 euros, plus VAT. Two underground parking spaces and a storage space are included in the price. Note: the renderings are for presentation purpose only. The project is under construction and due to be finished in the 2nd part of 2024.

Ozunca Băi resort is located in the Ozunca valley, in Covasna county, at an altitude of 750 meters and is a spa resort that raises a growing interest due to its fairytale location but also due to the curative quality of the waters here. The resort was formed around mineral springs in the Ozunca spring region in 1896, when there were pools with wooden edges, filled with mineral water. Ozunca water is known for its beneficial effects, especially among children without appetite, in the form of drinking cures, but also treats various diseases: cardiovascular, digestive, kidney and urinary tract diseases, respiratory diseases, neurosis asthenic, endocrine disorders. At Ozunca Bai, the main tourist attraction is the swamp with mineral water, a unique and protected nature reserve, where very rare flowers and plants grow, such as the ash flower or the carnivorous plant Drosera. However, an important attraction is the mineral water spring from Pisztrangos, very rich in calcium, whose deposits have made a huge cone of limestone bush. Also, other attractions in the area are: Merești Cave located 45 km from Vârghișului and Ozunca Gorges, Biborțeni, Bodvaj Furnace, and the nature reserves around Aita Mare village. Ozunca Băi Resort is today one of the most important tourist attractions in Szeklerland. In an extremely picturesque location, without neighbors, located right at the edge of the forest and refreshened by the river that flows on the property, the Vacation Resort in Ozunca Băi can be exactly the refuge in the middle of nature that you are looking for. The entire complex sits on a 10.5 hectars land plot hosting the main building, the big size pool, a parking and plenty of forest. The house was completed around 2005 and is built on 3 levels: basement, ground floor and attic, offering a total built area of 1,400 sqm . The property was generally used as a Kids Summer Camp and it should go through a general renovation before it can get a new utilisation, while the large plot of land offers plenty of opportunities for extra facilities or additional constructions. The pool is renovated in 2022 and is fully equipped and fully functional. Considering the pristine beauty of the places but also the multitude of attractions in the surroundings, this property in Ozunca Băi can become a major attraction in a really beautiful location.

Breaza was always a preferred weekend and vacation destination for people in Bucharest especially. The main advantages being the well known fresh air, beautiful nature with plenty of hiking options, so many attractions in the vicinity and also the easy access even during the weekends when the rest of Prahova Valley are a lot harder to reach. If Breaza is usually a place where one can find newer vacation homes, on one of the streets that meandres up the hill, we have the surprise to find a real architectural old gem , hidden behind the tall trees in front. The mansion clearly shows the signs of age, but this did not erase its beautiful features: the special structure with a small side on the front corner, the three-way arches across the entire terrace, the beautiful pillars and also the corner tower catch the eye even today. Built to offer all the luxury and confort of life in Breaza of its time, the mansion can be renovated and turned inti s very special second home. With a land plot of 1,880 sqm, the mansion has a total built area of 488 sqm, on two levels. From a structure point of view, the building looks good, the rooms are generally also in a good shape with the exception of the back area where a hole in the roof, now repaired, created some damage in that specific part of the house. Although generally in a good shape, the building will of course need a general renovation to really shed light on its beautiful architectural features. Separately from the main building, we can find a nice stone cellar that can be turned into a small wine cellar , and also a 40 sqm annex building that can be turned into usable space at will of the new owner. Easily accessible and very well located, the mansion can be turned into a really charming vacation residence.

Townhouse Irina is part of a residential project that brings urban regeneration forward. The concept of this residential project integrates modern architecture into an urban landscape in which French-influenced architectural styles such as classicist eclecticism and the later Art Deco style are interwoven. If we were to translate this cosy villa into the scent of a perfume, it would be called Belle. The enclave created by the design resembles a small, intimate entrance characteristic of the streets of the ultra-central area of the capital. The project, authorised and due for completion in the second half of 2024, will comprise 5 townhouse-style villas, with spaces designed to surprise with their utility and offer the comfort required for a dynamic urban lifestyle. Attention to detail is in every aspect and is the hallmark of a developer and architects with numerous projects, who are decorating the city with splendid modern facets of the new Little Paris. Previous projects are appreciated and built to high standards, both in terms of the quality of workmanship and materials used, as well as features that meet the requirements of European standards for new residential buildings. The design of this project includes intimate private terraces and gardens, large glazed spaces that allow light to flood into rooms designed with an unusual sense of space. Underground parking, with individual access to each of the houses, completes the landscape of a modern home. The townhouse villa Irina can be purchased completed in the grey stage, at a price of 585,000 euros plus VAT, or with the interior finishes completed, at a price of 615,000 euros plus VAT. Included in the price are two underground parking spaces and a storage space. Note: the renderings are for presentation purposes only. The project is under construction and is due to be completed in the second part of 2024.

This real architectural gem part of the historic woven of the city is signed by Architect Radu Culcer. Initially, the residence of the reputable lawyer and Law Professor Mihail Pascanu, the property from 53, Carol I Boulevard has been through a life full of changes. During the interwar period, the property hosted the Embassy of Turkey, and once nationalised it has been adapted to the new social environment and was the address of the Unions’ House. Starting from 1954, the social and economic conditions of the times have determined the conversion of the building into a condominium, being fragmented into apartments. Currently, the total area of approximately 1,000 sqm of the building on four levels includes the space where creativity activities are taking place – architecture, decorative arts, painting and silk-screen printing, theater, music. Under the poplar form the courtyard, the atmosphere is animated by various shows, cinema events, hand-made fairs and musical events. Inside, the exposed bricks, the elaborated wood paneling, the wooden staircase and the baroque coffered ceiling contribute to the timeless charm of the space, reminding of the old time prestige of the place, but, in the same time, being a source of inspiration for the potential of the property. Embodying the vibrant spirit of the downtown, the space is versatile and can be converted into both a cultural centre, a space with commercial functions for those who want a central address or even a residence for those looking to stay connected to the urban life of the heart the city.

The historic streets in the center of the capital were also targeted in the modernization process of Bucharest in the interwar period, areas that, at that time, were opening up to the new economic and commercial domains. The urban block-villas would meet the required functionality needs- the building that can be found on 24-26 Polona Street, built in 1927-1928, is one of such type. The modern building, individually compartmentalized on each floor, has undergone a restoration, rehabilitation and reconversion process, becoming an ultramodern and multifunctional construction.

Architectural rebirth with minimalist design and interwar accents. The luxurious villa was built by renovating, consolidating, repartitioning, refurbishing and technically modernizing a small interwar block. The resulting minimalist architectural image brought into the first plan the functionality of the spaces and maximixation of comfort. The aim was to integrate the exterior into the urban fabric of the area and there was a special concern for the sustainability of the construction, through the materials used. The villa is divided into three residential units that can be used together or individually: a duplex apartment comprising the basement, ground floor and first floor and a 3-room apartment, kitchen and two bathrooms, with similar subdivision, on the 2nd floor and attic. The interior staircase has been refurbished keeping an interwar Art Deco design. The interior elevator leads from the ground floor to the attic. The duplex apartment includes, on the ground floor, a large living area, dining room and kitchen with access to a chic and intimate terrace. The laundry room is set up in the basement, along with a room with a flexible function and access to an English courtyard. The first floor consists of three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with access to a terrace from the master bedroom. The two apartments located on the 2nd floor and attic comprise 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen. The remodeling and arrangement of the building was done with special attention paid to the smallest details. This involved, among other things, widening the glazed spaces to create bright rooms and managed to keep a special charm of the property. The exterior has been rebuilt using a combination of brick and corrugated iron. The generous space of the courtyard of the building allows the parking of 3 cars. The property has an additional rented parking space outside the courtyard.

Lining the cobbled streets named after the furriers and lipscani of yesteryear, the inn first shows off its wide, tall, arched ground-floor windows colored by faux stained glass. However, the upper floor retains its former glory, carefully decorated with rich elements such as the arms that support the wrought iron balcony, the common border that functions as a frame for the tall and narrow windows and the denticles that keep the rhythm under the roof. Today, the interior of the inn is dedicated to corporate and private events, which it hosts in three large areas – the conference center, the reception-foyer and the event hall. The space for business or cultural events is modern, bright and impeccably arranged for today's requirements (it has a capacity of 50-300+ people and is equipped with high-speed wi-fi internet, Video Wall Display, flip charts and systems professional sound system); instead, the event hall preserves accents of the past through sumptuous chandeliers, reinterpreted capitals and boiserie pieces that encapsulate old school sophistication. Spectacular by the contrast between ultramarine chairs, glass tables and boxed mirrors, this room discreetly resumes the English motif much more present in the reception area. The hall is served by its own kitchen equipped with modern equipment. The one that preserves the charm of the old inn is the inner courtyard, through the doors that the small traders hold open like welcoming arms, eager to show their treasures. Once upon a time there were majestic linden trees that shaded the yard, the name of the property coming from them. Atanasie Hagi, Gheorghe Polizu and Ștefan Popovici are the ones who built this inn in 1833, already having shops on the land which they expanded by buying from the neighbors. They built in their place, from the ground up, and in perfect companionship the Linden Inn, or as they called the Bezesten, from the main street of Marchitani (Strada Lipscani) which can be seen marked with our brands (initials) above both gates, with all the expenses of companionship are not out of two, brothers, a penny and a penny, from the warp (beginning) to the end of the key writes Constantin Bacalbaşa in București de altadată. The good camaraderie, the initials of which can still be seen today, did not last long because in 1835 the inn was shared, each owner receiving 14 shops and two warehouses; they kept in common only the toilet and the room where the innkeeper lives. Over time, the shops will continue to change their owners and close their doors well at night to protect travelers and merchants, as the Bacalbaşa writes: the shops were on one side and the other, and between them a street, which until 1916 it was paved with river stone. (…) All the shops were placed on deep cellars with large vaults that can still be seen today, the ceilings of the shops were also made in vaults. As in other inns, the windows and doors of the shops had iron shutters which were closed at night, and on top of them were placed crossbeams bent at the ends. At the entrances of the inn, on one side and on the other, next to the building, there were some stone pillars, about a meter high and quite thick, intended to protect the walls from damage by carts with goods that entered and left the inn.

The last few years have brought to our attention areas, names and ancient histories that put in context and humanize the town we live in and the buildings we pass by in a hurry. The House of Guilds is one of those witness-houses, few and often in danger of extinction, which recover the history of the city and its largest minority, the Jews. Sephardic refugees from Spain and later, after the Principalities Union, Ashkenazi from Galitia, the Jews are doctors, potters, merchants, samsari, tailors, painters, craftsmen specialized in metalworking and are useful to the city because it contributes to its urbanization. They settled on the left bank of Dâmbovița, near the Royal Court and later in the area that became the Jewish Quarter. They built houses with shops on the ground floor, public baths, kosher butchers shops and dairies, teahouses where religious music was listened to, temples and synagogues. Today few remember this community; the legionary fires of 1941 and the massive demolition of the 1980s changed the appearance of the neighborhood considerably. At present, the toponym Jewish Quarter encapsulates more storrytelling than material evidence, which makes the property proposed for sale even more valuable. On Spătaru Street at number 10A we find today this neo-Gothic building, richly decorated, Casa Breslelor, the work of the architect Luigi Ludovic Lipizer, who arrived in Bucharest from the Austrian Empire in the middle of the 19th century. The building has not only a unique architecture but also a historical and architectural value that the restoration and extension project carried out by an architectural office specialized in the rehabilitation of historical monuments intends to preserve (the project is currently subject to approval). Lipizer embraces the neo-Gothic style, expressed in Europe in the18th and 19th centuries, and this option makes the building look like a commercial hall from the Middle Ages and is known today as the House of Guilds - it is believed that the statues placed on the columns with capitals and protected by meticulously decorated canopies represent various professions. The access is made through an arched door under a noble broken arch, but the neo-Gothic remains outside; inside, only the light entering the house brings with it the beauty of the windows. On the ground floor, besides the hall and stairwell, there will be, according to the restoration and extension project, an office, a living room with dinning area, a bathroom and a kitchen. Upstairs it is proposed to redistribute the space into a master bedroom, a bathroom, another bedroom plus a family room and the current loggia. The architects propose an additional floor with a bedroom and terrace; also here the restoration and extension project includes the transformation of a portion of the roof into a glass roof. In the basement generous areas have been designed for the technical room, laundry/ bathroom and cellar, plus living quarters for staff. An open cellar is provided with access from the courtyard, where the demolition of the adjoining bodies without residential and architectural-historical value is taken into account with the preservation of some brick walls as decorative elements of the green spaces that will form the interior garden. The present values the past, shakes it from the dust and sees its future. The House of Guilds, one of the few left standing despite its 160th anniversary, has the chance to shine again as a magnificent private home, unique in its history and architecture, comfortable and warm through its planned restoration works. Sources: bucurestiivechisinoi.ro turismistoric.ro arhivadearhitectura.ro 1001calatorii.ro

Located in the north of the Bucharest, a short distance from Lake Pipera, this furnished villa offers all the modern living conditions and a potential for expansion for the future, in a quiet area, away from the specific noise of car and air traffic. In terms of comfort, all conditions are ensured by premium finishes and accessories such as: smart home system centralized on the Google Home platform with voice command, lighting control, electric access gate operation, temperature setting, air purification in the bedroom area, control to your TV and Sonos audio system. Tece underfloor heating system automated by Salus smart home system, air conditioning with LG Artcool Gallery, heating system secured by gas and ready for installation of solar panels and air-water heat pumps. Inside, we have a living room and dining room with generous glazed surfaces with laminated wood carpentry and double glazing, natural wood interior doors, ambient architectural lighting with spotlights and LED strips, decorative concrete flooring with heating system, concrete staircase finished with solid wood and safety glass balustrade, bioethanol fireplace, Rovere and Divani & Sofa furniture, Rovere kitchen furniture with ceramic slab island, wine refrigerator with a capacity of 36 bottles, Samsung side by side refrigerator, 3 bedrooms with bathrooms and walk- in dressing room, black-out curtains, spacious bathrooms with modern fittings, bathrooms clad with ceramic tiles and glass mosaic with Porcelanosa, Villeroy Boch, Dalet sanitary ware, freestanding sinks, built-in faucets, walk in rain shower, hygienic shower. The land is rectangular in shape with lawn, ornamental plants and automated irrigation system, heated swimming pool with countercurrent swimming system 25 sqm and automated ionization system, dedicated barbeque area clad with ceramic slab, equipped with professional ice machine, outdoor terrace of 220 sqm tiled with floating ceramic and drainage system, platform for 3 parking spaces in the yard and possibility of garage. Another advantage of the generous area of land is the existence of an approved project for the construction of a new villa on the land behind the existing villa, designed in a modern Mediterranean style, with a ventilated facade, glazed floor to ceiling surfaces with heights of 3.5 m, and a project at interior created by a design house in Marbella, Spain. In conclusion, it is a smart, stylish house, well-equipped for the present and the future, a suitable residence where you can feel at home.

Dacia Boulevard was the last boulevard designed before the First World War, during the mayor Vintilă Brătianu. The new boulevard, as it was originally called, was designed to create an important connection between Gara de Nord and Gara Obor. Being a designed boulevard, it had to make its way through the old districts of Bucharest, around the current Spanish Market Square, to the confluence with Mihai Eminescu Street and Calea Moșilor. Mihai Eminescu Street, called Romană Street until 1948, is a historic street in Bucharest that connected the Herăstrăului Street, the current Calea Dorobanţilor, with the Târgului de Afară Bridge, today Calea Moșilor. A short distance from the confluence of Dacia Boulevard with Mihai Eminescu Street, in the former Silvestru slum, this historic four-level villa with rooms over 3.5 m high, arranged on Bs + Gf + 1F + A, was founded at the beginning of the 20th century, made in a neoclassical style, typical of the beginning of the century, at the command of General Coandă, former prime minister in the interwar period. The house integrates very well in the architectural style of the area, next to the twin house in the immediate vicinity. Being built on the corner, it has the advantage of a panoramic opening to two streets. The building escaped nationalization, remaining in the family by succession, this advantage helping it to keep all the original architectural details. Then, in 2010, it underwent an extensive consolidation and restoration action, on which occasion it benefited from increased attention to the strengthening of the foundation, but also to a series of very practical finishes and equipment with quality materials. In addition to the impeccable restoration of parquet, solid wood joinery, wooden doors with glass windows, it now also benefits from a central heating system with gas boiler and fan coils in each room, chiller unit for air conditioning and fan coils in each room, chandeliers and vintage lighting lamps, time-specific switches for lighting fixtures. In addition, at the time of the renovation, investment was made in the construction of a tower in the attic, which became an important attraction of the house. He also received a glass art staircase with wrought iron floral elements, which provides access to the upper levels, designed and executed by the famous plastic designer Cornelia Moldoveanu. The exterior, thermally rehabilitated by complete cladding with Austro-therm rigid terrestrial system, is symmetrically decorated with friezes and laurel window frames without an exaggerated load. The predominant floral tones continue in the interior starting with the double entrance door, restored, glazed with flowers, with the marble floor decorated with floral elements framed by the line of life, above which is a skylight with floral stained glass and a Viennese ceramic stove white located in the living room. This house welcomes you inside with an enviable positive energy, offering the pleasure of going through a setting designed to fascinate you from the first step. It may have multiple destinations in the future, such as residence, company headquarters, notary or law firm. The villa is also available for rent at the price of 4,000 euros/month. Photo: Gabriel Ghizdavu

Residence is an understatement. Rather, it is about a large-scale residential concept, surrounded by positive energy, built in the heart of Codril Vlăsiei, a short distance from the future A0 - ring highway, Henri Coandă International Airport and Băneasa Shopping City. Hidden from the hectic life and pollution of the city, in an area where you can hear the chirping of wild birds from the window, this unique property has a plot of 14,000 square meters, a privilege that few residential properties enjoy in the immediate vicinity of the Capital. Generous rooms, solid wood floors, stained glass windows, woodwork and classic, timeless finishes are just a few of the attributes of the home that looks like something out of a modern fairy tale. The indoor pool and fireplace welcome frosty days, and the seemingly endless garden, which together with the tree-lined lake and relaxing walks through the private forest, emphasize the true definition of luxury. The property has photovoltaic panels with a power of 17 kw and a prosumer function, an internal elevator and a covered garage for 3 cars. It is a rare purchase opportunity with a beautiful story behind it, where the owner over time joined several parcels of land, including a piece of oak forest, which is now an integral part of the property. In addition to practical compartmentalization and tasteful finishes, the house can be lived in by two families by separating the areas. Being at the first sale since the construction, the owner confesses that it is hard to part with it, sharing the following story: Many times when I was preparing for the launch of the project I asked myself, what should my house look like? I browsed dozens of sites with famous projects, photos of famous houses, medieval villas and historical monuments. Neither seemed to be the expression of my expectation. I always told myself that I wanted it to reflect the situation of my childhood home, where no one could look in unless invited but, on the other hand, it had its back to the garden and the forest. And at the same time, to have a wide opening to the forest, to be separate but also connected to a service area. Well, if they could let the forest penetrate inside, that would be even better. And if I can get the vegetation to spread, symbolically, into the house, it would be wonderful to be able to light a fire that doesn't screen my view of the garden and the oak trees. From the beginning, I imagined a house with large windows, the size of a football goal, with wide doors, with openings through which nature and the forest could pass and embrace it from all sides. When I first stepped into the clearing with waist-deep grass, surrounded by tall oaks, I said to myself: This is the place for my house! Photo: Dan Călin

Somewhere in the heart of Bucharest, on a small street in the Capitalelor area, a 19th century villa surprises by preserving, on a small scale, the spirit of a Renaissance palace. The interiors are dominated by solid pieces of furniture and heavy textiles, be it the velvets upholstering the canvases or the flowing draperies and exquisite carpets. Wood dresses, in delicate robes of pale grey, the interior window surrounds, the joinery of the double glazed doors and the panelled walls, in line with the rest of the complex woodwork. In counterpoint are the furniture and impressive staircase, which retain the natural warmth of natural wood, discreetly lacquered but carved with visible craftsmanship. It is obvious that the painstaking restoration process has preserved and highlighted many of the original decorative elements - stuccowork, woodwork, etc. On the other hand, the interior design manages spectacularly to avoid shrinking in time, living in the present through an interesting mix of new and old in terms of fine arts and functional-decorative - classic paintings coexist wonderfully with contemporary ones, just as the light fittings and kitchen retain their modern character. The space is laid out over four levels, which allows for a good sharing of areas. On the basement level there is a guest bedroom, a hobby room, a gym with a bathroom, as well as a wine cellar, a laundry room and a technical room. The ground floor has common areas - a living room and a dining room, complemented by an office, a kitchen and a bathroom. Three further bedrooms and a bathroom are fitted upstairs; the attic has yet to find its purpose, awaiting a plan, an idea. Part of the Louis Blanc subdivision, the villa offers the future owner a rare opportunity to live in the city's super premium area without the compromises classically associated with it - limited space, old construction, etc. The photos present only an interior design solution.

What is peace of mind if not the synergy between forest, lake and 8000 square meters of land? Quitude here means sun and air filtered by the crown of secular oaks, noises that once caught between the branches of willows become gentle sounds, a horizon line where the lake water waves imperceptibly and abundant vegetation that overwhelms the senses. The property is designed for a large family with children, guests, ponies, boats and cars. Regardless of age, status or mode of transport, each category is pampered in constructions made of wood that befriends the surrounding lush nature. A double laced wrought iron staircase offers a majestic entrance to the villa; inside, a generous living room and a carefully designed kitchen are ready to serve the occupants of the ten bedrooms full of light and optimism, just as well as the indoor pool, tennis court, wine cellar, sauna, salt mine and gym. The spaces are large and have harmonious proportions making the living light, comfortable - relaxed and distinguished. Outside, the green spaces are carefully manicured and intertwined without aggressive contrasts - secular trees with ornamental shrubs, hedges with weeping willows, ivy with geraniums. The playground is in the forest, in a clearing outlined around a tree in which a small towered wooden castle is perched (it can be reached by valiantly riding the ladder that embraces the tree trunk). Intimacy acquires on this property an extended meaning; guests have two self-catering cottages, and the staff can benefit from private accommodation. The pony too has its special place and is willing to offer joy to future owners if they want it. As a more agile means of transport, the boats share a garage, with the pontoon at hand for utilitarian trips or adrenaline-fuelled water sports (for those who prefer land underfoot there are jogging and cycling). Reverie lovers will quickly discover the sunbeds and the pier or any of the secular oaks - a rare treat indeed, a stone's throw from Bucharest and its hectic life.

Historical monument of class B, the building in Calea Plevnei encompasses a special architectural and historical value, thus being a reference of the past cultural life of Bucharest. The house was built in 1906 under the command of Ioan Clinciu, a renowned history professor. Born in 1864 in Poarta-Bran, Făgăraș county, in a poor family, he dedicated his childhood and youth to studying, facing many difficulties, detailed in his autobiography written in 1936. In 1883, he crossed the border slipping through the mountains, from Bran to Sinaia, in order to enroll in the Higher Normal School in Bucharest, where Alexandru Odobescu was director at that time. Professor Clinciu began his teaching career in 1889, when Gheorghe Lazăr was just a gymnasium that operated in the courtyard of St. Gheorghe Old church. In 1892, he founded, along with Gh. Popa-Lisseanu, his brother-in-law, Clinciu-Popa Boys Institute. This represented for 24 years one of the capital's elite educational establishments, under the French-Romanian High school. In politics, Clinciu was president of the Association of Secondary Teachers, then he became deputy and senator, first in the Conservative-Democratic party, then in the Romanian National party. In his autobiography, Professor Clinciu proudly recalls: I built a house in Bucharest, a villa in Bran and a wine cellar admired by many in Vadu Săpat. The house in Bucharest displays the refinement of the Art Nouveau style specific to the beginning of the 20th century, a mirror of La Belle Époque. The building with ground floor, first floor and attic has a slender figure, completed by a bow-window on the corner. The doors and windows bear Art Nouveau features, with curved, fluid profiles, crowned by stucco ornaments, details that offer an unquestioning elegance of the exterior. Inside, there are still preserved original elements, testimonies of the past bourgeois life of Bucharest: imposing carved wooden staircase, made by one of the most important workshops of the time, at Interlaken (Switzerland), terracotta stoves with carefully decorated tiles, ornamental stuccoes on the ceilings. The main entrance is grand, marked by a porch with a painted ceiling, delimited by the main hall through doors with rounded profiles of carved wood, with windows sandblasted in the Art Nouveau manner. Calea Plevnei from the former Livedea Gospod / St. Constantine slum hosted numerous homes for teachers and intellectuals, often built with their personal means, including the house where the poet George Coșbuc lived for the last years of his life (at no. 40). At the present no. 72 is the home of Gh. Popa-Lisseanu (1866-1945), brother-in-law of the reputed professor Clinciu, historian, philologist and archeologist. After more than 110 years since its construction, this architectural jewel can be brought back to life through a substantially restoration. An important advantage is the large area of the land and its layout, which generates real potential for further real estate development.

Built in neoclassical style at the end of the 19th century, in the Historic Center of the Capital, a short distance from Rosetti Square, this merchant villa remains an important testimony of Bucharest from the interwar period. Located in the Bucharest perimeter of Negustori, which marked Mircea Eliade's childhood, this building proposes a return to Bucharest from another time. The house with basement, ground floor, first floor and attic, is distinguished by its balanced proportions, its arrangement being perfectly symmetrical. The main façade is marked by the central door flanked by two single-sided windows, raised with a masonry sill. In turn, the floor is distinguished by the central balcony, with wrought iron railing and arched arched door, flanked by two windows with ornaments representing acanthus leaves and ribbons. With a total area of ​​280 sqm, it has 7 rooms, 3 bathrooms, an inner courtyard, storage spaces in the basement and attic. The exterior carpentry is made of laminated wood with double glazing, the interior is made of wood, the main wrought iron staircase, continued by two other oak stairs that make the connection with the basement and the attic, respectively. The whole building is connected to all utilities, including the three-phase electrical network. Undergoing a complete renovation in 2021, the building has retained all the original architectural elements. The new owner will have the opportunity to own a period villa, emblematic of an old district of Bucharest.

Ideally situated in the exclusivist Northern area of Bucharest, this 3-floor villa is built on the Lake Tei shore. It benefits from both the vicinity of the Pipera office area and the quietness of an intimate area, with only a few neighbouring constructions. Built in 2018, it stands out by its original architecture, a mix of modern materials: cement, glass, iron, that grant it expressivity and set it apart from the villas around. During the hot season, the generous 200 sqm garden becomes a comforting shaded oasis, with the nearby lake’s breeze blowing gently. The villa offers a splendid view towards Lake Tei, from the living room, terrace and garden. The ample surface of 1350 sqm accommodates 12 rooms and 6 bathrooms. The natural light floods the neo-Baroque interior, with decorative stucco mouldings, golden details, columns, sculptures, oversized Italian mosaic panels and precious curtains. The day area is situated at the ground floor, with a wide living room with chimney, dining area and kitchen. The spaces are marked by recessed lighting and chandeliers, carefully coordinated to create a welcoming atmosphere during the night. The imposing staircase, decorated with mosaic, leads to the upper floors, where the bedrooms and lounge area are. The bathrooms preserve the neo-Baroque design, with their elegant details. The superior floor has a skylight, offering an energising light. Each space of this imposing villa was conceived in detail and personalized to express the sophisticated elegance of its royal style, maintaining however the warm and inviting atmosphere of a home.