CEC Palace
{{short description|Heritage site in Bucharest, Romania}}
{{Infobox Historic building
| name = CEC Palace
Palatul CEC
| image = Palacio CEC, Bucarest, Rumanía, 2016-05-29, DD 91-93 HDR.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = The CEC Palace in May 2016
| map_type =
| coordinates = {{coord|44.4320|26.0965|display=inline}}
| location_town = Bucharest
| location_country = {{ROU}}
| architect = Paul Gottereau (project), Ion Socolescu (construction)
| client = CEC Bank
| engineer =
| construction_start_date = 8 June 1897{{cite book|last1=Marinache|first1=Oana|title=Paul Gottereau - Un Regal în Arhitectură|date=2017|publisher=Editura Istoria Artei|isbn=978-606-8839-09-7|page=184|url=|language=ro}}
| completion_date = 1900
| date_demolished =
| cost = 30.0 million lei
| structural_system =
| style = Beaux-Arts
| size =
}}
The CEC Palace ({{langx|ro|Palatul CEC}}) in Bucharest, Romania, built between 8 June 1897 and 1900, and situated on Calea Victoriei opposite the National Museum of Romanian History, is the headquarters of CEC Bank.
History
File:Saint John the Great Monastery Church, where is now the CEC Palace.jpg
Before the construction of the palace, the location was occupied by the ruins of a monastery (Saint John the Great) and an adjoining inn. The 16th-century church was renovated by Constantin Brâncoveanu between 1702 and 1703, but later deteriorated and was demolished in 1875.
The palace was built as a new headquarters for Romania's oldest bank, the public savings institution Casa de Depuneri, Consemnațiuni și Economie, later known as C.E.C. (Romanian: Casa de Economii și Consemnațiuni), and nowadays CEC Bank. The land was bought and the building constructed with the institution's own funds. Work started on June 8, 1897 and was completed in 1900. The project was designed by the architect Paul Gottereau, a graduate of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris; construction was supervised by the Romanian architect Ion Socolescu.
In 2009, it was the venue for the 60th birthday celebrations of Crown Princess Margareta of Romania,Monarchists blog http://monarchists.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/crown-princess-margarita-celebrated.html and in 2015 it was also the venue for the 25th anniversary{{Cite web|url=http://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/dineul-oficial-de-la-palatul-cec-18-ianuarie-2015/|title = Dineul oficial de la Palatul CEC, 18 ianuarie 2015 | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania}} of the celebration of Crown Princess Margareta's charity (FPMR).{{cite web |url=http://www.fpmr.ro/ |title=Home |website=fpmr.ro}}
Architecture
Built in eclectic style, the palace is topped by a glass and metal dome. The entrance features an arch supported by two pairs of columns in composite style. The four corners are decorated with gables and coats of arms and ending in Renaissance domes.
Cladirea CEC.jpg
Bucarest, palazzo della cassa di risparmio, 01.JPG
Palatul Casei de Depuneri, Consemnațiuni și Economie Bucuresti.jpg
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- Silvia Colfescu, București - ghid turistic, istoric, artistic, ed. Vremea, 2006
- Dan Berindei, Sebastian Bonifaciu - București Ghid turistic, Ed. Sport-Turism, București,1980
External links
{{commons category|CEC Palace, Bucharest}}
- [http://hartamonumentebucuresti.apmnir.ro/ Map of Historical Monuments in Bucharest]
{{Palaces and castles in Romania}}
Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1900