One of the fallouts from Romania entering World War I was the halting of all construction works ongoing at that time, on both private and public buildings. When the conflict ended and people resumed their normal life, it was expected that the old projects would be pursued and finished, but things did not so easily. Despite strenuous efforts, many important works for the city and community moved forwards at a snail’s pace and were subjected to substantial changes; in some cases, projects were discontinued altogether. The study herein depicts the indirect and long-term effects that a war can have on architecture, while tracking the evolution of several works of construction in Bucharest that were started in the first years of the last century, returned to during the interwar period and completed after the establishment of the People’s Republic.

Fig. 1. Dimitrie Maimarolu and Ernest Doneaud. The Senate Palace. Arhitectura (1924): 71-72.

Fig. 2. Nicolae Ghika-Budești. Sketch of the National Art Museum. Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș. Muzeografie românească [Romanian Museography]. București, 1936.

Fig. 3. The Senate site during the interwar period, accessed October 2018, https://www.facebook.com/bucuresti1459/photos/a.347379832025144/396395577123569/?type=3&theater.

Fig. 4. The National Art Museum in the 1930s. Alexandru Tzigara-Samurcaș. Muzeografie românească. București, 1936.

Fig. 5. Paul Smărăndescu. Drawing of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Paul Smărăndescu. Lucrări de arhitectură. 1907-1942 [Architectural Works. 1907-1942]. București: Tipografia “Universul”, 1942.

Fig. 6. Paul Smărăndescu. Perspective drawing of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Fig. 7. Emil Nădejde. Study of the façade of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Serviciul arhitecturii și oficiul ethnic. Fund Ministerul de Interne, file 1/1949. Arhivele Naționale Istorice Centrale.

Fig. 8. Proposal for a modification of the building. Serviciul arhitecturii și oficiul ethnic. Fund Ministerul de Interne, file 1/1949. Arhivele Naționale Istorice Centrale.

Fig. 9. Extension of the former National Art Museum during late 1960s. Personal collection.

Fig. 10. Model for a housing project in the former Senate Plaza. Constantin Moșinschi. “Studii pentru reconstrucția Căii Victoriei” [Studies for the Reconstruction of Calea Victoriei (Victoriei Avenue)]. Arhitectura R.P.R. 6 (1956): 5-11.