Toma T. Socolescu

Toma T. Socolescu

Toma T. Socolescu in his youth.
Born 20 July 1883
Ploiești
Died 16 October 1960
Bucharest
Nationality Romania Romanian
Alma mater Ion Mincu University
Occupation Architect
Awards First prize in the contest for the Palace of the Municipality of Bucharest (1925), Honorary citizen of the city of Ploiești, Member of the Order of the Crown of Romania to the rank of officer
Practice Architecture, urban planning, archeology, university education, culture, politics, journalism
Buildings Central hall and St John cathedral of Ploiești
Projects City planning of Ploiești, city radius increase
Design Neo Brâncovenesc style or Neo-Romanian style

Toma T. Socolescu, (20 July 1883 in Ploiești – 16 October 1960 in Bucharest, Romania) was an important Romanian architect. A pillar of Romanian architecture from the early 20th century until World War II, he devoted his life to his native Prahova County, especially the city of Ploiești. He also contributed significantly to his country's cultural life.

Biography

Born into a family of architects that marked Romanian modern architecture until the Second World War, Toma T. Socolescu left a consistent legacy of outstanding constructions, cultural foundations and literature related to Romanian architecture and its evolution. He is still considered a standard in the world of arts and architecture. A dozen of his works have been classified as historical monuments.

Sketch of a monumental entry. Extract from Toma T. Socolescu's sketches notebook.
Sketch of a monumental entry. Extract from Toma T. Socolescu's sketches notebook.

Education and travels

The son and nephew of architects, he studied in 1901 at the lyceum St Peter and St Paul of Ploiești (ro) and then enrolled at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, then known as the National School of Architecture, where he was the student of Ion Mincu, the leading expert in Romanian architecture at the beginning of the 20th century. In June 1911, he graduated with highest honors, specializing in civil and religious architecture and Romanian archaeology. He returned to this institution to teach architectural theory from 1929 to 1947.

He began his career as a designer at the Central Post Office in Bucharest in 1904. In 1906 he was hired as a designer by a large workshop of architects dedicated to building the infrastructure of the 'Romanian General Exhibition of 1906'. Carol Park was specially designed for this event by the French landscape architect Édouard Redont. The exhibition ran from 6 June to 23 November 1906 in Bucharest. The event was organized by the Romanian Government in honor of the 40-year reign of Carol I of Romania. This opportunity put him in contact with leading artists and architects of the time and had a decisive impact on the rest of his career.

His travels to Vienna, Constantinople and Budapest in 1913, to Italy (15 December 1923 to 20 February 1924, and January 1937) and to France represented a milestone in his life. In these places he found inspiration for his work in Romania.

Service during World War I

Drafted into the 47th Infantry Regiment in 1916, he was assigned to the Bucharest transport regiment and then sent to the 'Danube Defense Group' (Grupul Apărării Dunarii).[b 1] There, with other architects and engineers, he was responsible for bridge demolition operations during the Moldova retreat. He also built hospitals and sanitation facilities, hoping to combat typhus, which was wreaking havoc on the Romanian army. Around 1917 he joined a battalion of mountain troops. The retreat of the Romanian army to Moldova enabled him to discover the rustic and sacred arts of various Romanian regions. Never separated from his notebook, he produced many drawings of folk art and traditional architectural styles that would later inspire him. Two reproductions of his watercolors of houses in Chișinău (Bessarabia) were published in 1926.[d 1] In 1941 he wrote an article on the Romanian ancient art of Bessarabia, and illustrated it with his own watercolors.[d 2]

Architectural and urbanistic work

Toma T. Socolescu was one of the representatives and staunch defenders of the Romanian national architectural style, also referred to as Neo brâncovenesc style or Neo Romanian style. He was inspired particularly by the Brâncovenesc style. He worked to improve Ploiești's appearance and to develop public buildings for all of county of Prahova. Very interested in archeology, he would study and preserve many old houses and churches, but also publish studies and surveys in this area.

Facade sketch. Extract from the Toma T. Socolescu's sketches notebook.
Facade sketch. Extract from the Toma T. Socolescu's sketch notebook.

He also played a key role in the management of the Society of Romanian Architects,[1] and constantly participated in his hometown's cultural and social life. He even served as Mayor from December 1919 to March 1920.

The artistic component of architecture was fundamental for him and he was very critical of architecture that was unrelated to art, especially to traditional Romanian art. He decried a sharp increase in the number of architecture students without the necessary artistic talent. In his memoirs, he chastised the architects of the 1920s through the 1940s, who, according to him, neglected the artistic foundations of architecture. He also denounced the projects which only took land use into account and noted the lack of hygiene in houses built between 1930 and 1950 in Romania, while the buildings in France, Austria and Germany of the same period were much more advanced in this field. His editorials against the immediate search for profit and property speculation, leading to poor and soulless construction, still echo today.[b 2]

In The Architecture of Ploiești, A Historical Study[2] (1938), Toma T. Socolescu writes:

“ We live in a confusing time, in which it seems that nobody knows what he wants. From this is derived this chaos of so-called modern buildings, resulting in a time when science, engineering calculations and a quasi-superficiality of architectural knowledge have overtaken a sacred beauty that was cultivated over the centuries that have preceded us, standardizing everything and thus creating cold and clumsy works of civilization on the ruins of those of culture, those which have given us the tradition and spirit of this people raised in the cult of beauty.[a 1] ”

In Ploiești

He was mayor of Ploiești immediately after the 1916-1918 conflict, as well as the county's Chief Architect,[b 3] and had to handle all major supply problems in the city. He was the primary creator of the city's radius expansion, including the refineries located in the periphery that allowed the city to benefit from the tax base they provided. The budget tripled and reach a level that allowed large infrastructure projects. He planned major changes in the city, including the construction of the Central Market Hall of Ploiești,[c 1] and act as urban planner. Many architectural projects that were not completed during his short term were finished by the following mayors.

Throughout his life, he improved the City of Ploiești both in terms of town planning and hygiene. From 1932 to 1935, in collaboration with architects Ion Davidescu and S. Vasilescu, he developed a systematic plan[c 2] of the city. This plan,[3] that gave more weight to greenspace, traffic and railway and generally organized orderly growth of the city. The plan provides for urban development and the optimal populating density, the public and cultural institutions allotment, schools, greenspaces. It also details the rules that will define what is called today the land-use plan. He developed similar plans for the towns of Câmpina and Mizil.[4] These projects were enforced until the Communists took over the city government in 1945. The plan called systematic had nothing in common with the massive destruction implemented by the Communists and called systematization.

In Păulești

Duqué's manor in Păulești.
Duqué's manor in Păulești.

He also put a lot of time and effort into the commune of Păulești as from its installation there in 1927. He was its mayor between February 1938 and January 1945, a term interrupted by the Legionary Movement regime between November 1940 and February 1942. His second term was also be shortened by the Communists in January 1945.[5] In only five years and a half, he built almost all its buildings, bridges and public monuments, including the town hall, the primary school and the public baths. He also created landscaped areas including the municipal park, called Parcul cu castani,[6] An especially beautiful chestnut tree avenue cut across the park and led to the cemetery. He had hoped an amusement park and an ornamental pond[c 3] could be built in this area, to provide to the Ploiești residents (Păulești is located at only 7 km from Ploiești) a large green space for rest. The project began around 1930 but was not completed before the Second World War. It revived under the name Parc Pădurea Păulești in 1995. After many legal disputes between the city and the construction company, the project was halted and then re-activated in July 2007.[7] Work resumed in 2009.[8] In 2007, in recognition of the benefits provided by the architect, the commune college was renamed Arhitect T T. Socolescu.[9] In late May 2011, another ceremony celebrated the architect, unveiling a bust in his image. This was installed in the courtyard of the school.[10]

Cultural and artistic work

To develop the cultural life of his city, he launched initiatives that equipped Prahova County with its first museum and cultural institutions. Supported by Ploiești and Nicolae Iorga, also he founded its first history museum, its first public library, and its first museum of fine arts.

Regional Museum of Prahova

By 1914, aided by Nicolae Iorga intervening to Ion Duca, then Minister of Education, he saved from destruction[b 4] an historic house dating from the 18th century and preserved in its original form : the coppersmith dealer house of Hagi Prodan (Casa Hagi Prodan). In 1919, as County Architect in Chief, he founded a smallregional ethnographic and religious art museum[a 2] in the same house. It was the city's first museum[b 3] initially called muzeul județului or muzeul Prahovei.[a 3]

Balcony illustration. Extract from Toma T. Socolescu's sketchbook.
Balcony illustration. Extract from Toma T. Socolescu's sketchbook.

After a public appeal and a successful fundraising campaign,[b 5] he collected from all over the county, with the help of priests and teachers, many outstanding pieces of art. The museum was well stocked with furniture, clothing and icons forgotten in the region's attics. Nicolae Iorga, then president of the Commission on Historical Monuments, added to the staffing many other pieces of historical value. Stored in the Prefecture's cellar of Ploiești during the period 1940-1944, the museum's inventory was eventually lost or stolen during the communist period and replaced with other objects collected by Professor Nicolae Simache, whom the architect will assist.

Known as the Muzeul Hagi Prodan since 1953, the museum was renamed on 18 June 2005 : Casa de Târgoveț din Secolul al XVIII-lea - al XIX-lea.[11]

Political and cultural companion of Nicolae Iorga, the architect will actively participate in Summer courses[12] established in 1911 in Vălenii de Munte by the historian. In addition to achieving the plans of the classrooms,[b 4] the architect will take place regularly as a speaker, among many professors and prominent figures of the Romanian cultural and political life.[b 6] Become famous and having taken a great extent, the openings of Summer courses of Iorga attracted many leading politicians and ministers in office. King Ferdinand of Romania, Prince Carol II of Romania and Princess Elisabeth of Wied also attended lectures by the historian. On 17 August 1938, Maria Tănase will sing for the closure.[13] has bee

He also founded in 1921, partly through public subscription, the Biblioteca Populare Nicolae Iorga,[14] originally installed on the municipal baths's right wing.[15] Heading the Management Committee, he will continue to expand the library contents thanks to generous donors.[b 7] In the same place, on the ground floor, he will then develop an art gallery by collecting Western Europe artists's reproductions as well as original Romanian oils and watercolors. Inaugurated on 20 March 1921, it had originally 1250 volumes. In 1937, more than 11000 books and more than 3500 publications will be available and used free of charge by the 8000 registered readers. The institution will benefit from significant subsidies increasing from its inception. He will give himself over 250 volumes from his own collection.[a 4]

Museum of Fine Arts

As well as developing the Public Library Nicolae Iorga and on the ground floor of the same building, he founded and developed an art gallery by collecting reproductions of Western Europe artists of well as original Romanian oils and watercolors.[a 5] For this purpose, he will be helped by a group of Ploiești intellectuals including the lawyer, art collector and politician Ion Ionescu-Quintus,[b 8][c 4] the historian Dumitru Munteanu-Râmnic, as well as by successive mayors of the city including Ștefan Moțoiu, great trader, who will provide substantial financial support to this project. Within the framework of the Cultural Foundation Nicolae Iorga,[16] created around 1930 and chaired by the architect, the pinacotheca subsequently became the Ploiești Museum of Fine Arts. It will be inaugurated by the architect in November 1931[17] The opening speech is reproduced in extenso in Amintiri.[b 9] It was only in 1965 that the museum will be moved to the current building : the Ghiță Ionescu palace, former County Prefecture. In Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric[a 6] and Monografia orașului Ploești, appear photographs, a list of all the exhibited painters, as well as some remarkable works, present in the museum in 1938. The latter was then installed in the old municipal baths.[18] Some oils and watercolors by Toma T. Socolescu, which the latter donated[19] to the museum, still exist, as do some works by the artist Toma Gh. Tomescu,[20] but are not exposed in the museum.

Other cultural activities and foundations in Prahova

Communist period

A member of a prominent family in Romania, leading politician of the Prahova County, and refusing to integrate into the communist organization of architects, considered as an Enemy of the people, he was threatened, blackmailed and persecuted by the communist authorities. His real and personal properties were confiscated or stolen in the 1950s by the Securitate (the Romanian political police), and the local communist authorities. His family, like most families of good Romanian society, will particularly suffer from this situation. Prohibited from practicing his profession of architect, he will be expropriated and expelled from Păulești estate on 21 February 1952 and will move with his son Toma Barbu Socolescu in Bucharest. The Socolescu family will be harassed and bullied by the Securitate almost until his death in 1960. Without income, and being denied a decent pension by the communist authorities, he will have to work until the age of 74 at the Institute of Urban Planning and Construction (ISPROR).[23] From 1953, within the framework of ICSOR,[24] he was sent on secondment to the Department of Historical Monuments for four years.[b 10] On 12 February 1957, he was forced to retire with a reduced pension.[b 10] Despite the adversity and difficulties, Toma T. Socolescu fought tirelessly until his last days to defend, without concessions, his idea of architecture.[25]

Legacy

Toma T. Socolescu is still studied in the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism and is still considered as an architectural reference in Romania. Toma T. Socolescu is one of the remarkable figures that have given to Romania, and mainly Prahova County, his modern urban structure, and a particularly noticed beauty until the end of the inter-war years.

There was until today[26] no visible reference to Toma T. Socolescu in the streets of Ploiești or in those of the capital. Although there is a Technical High School in Ploiești, named after his father Liceul Toma N. Socolescu,[27] an architecture and public works technical college in Bucharest named after his uncle, Colegiul Ion N. Socolescu[28] and also a street named after his father in Ploiești, the name and work of Toma T. Socolescu seemed so far to be absent from the history of the Prahova County and Bucharest. The professor-architect is out of oblivion since 21 October 2010 when took place in Ploiești and Păulești, a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his death. In addition, various ceremonies[29] were held from 2009 to 2011, including the installation of a bust[30] before the Central Market Hall of Ploiești and the naming of the park that is located in front of it, in the name of the architect. On 29 September 2010, Toma T. Socolescu was awarded the postmortem title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Ploiesti.[31]

His friend Ion Ionescu-Quintus at the Păulești manor, around 1930.
His friend Ion Ionescu-Quintus at the Păulești manor, around 1930.

Many of his works were destroyed partly by the American bombardments of 1943-44, especially harsh[32] in Ploiești, but also by the Communists and Nicolae Ceaușescu who carried out the removal of all traces of the soul and the Romanian architecture via the systematization.[33] As it occurred with many goods stolen by the Romanian state during the communist totalitarian era, some of its properties have been returned in an advanced state of degradation,[34] as for his manor in Păulești,[35] or his building in Ploiești, which has been totally disfigured in the 1950s.[36]

His house of Păulești[37] has been classified on the regional list of Historic Monuments,[38] after 45 years of abandonment and neglect from the state. Built by another architect and having no Link with the Socolescu style, It was returned to the heiress in a very damaged state. Stripped of its land, and of its then planted ornamental garden (organized by the architect), it has lost most of its original beauty and harmony. The estate is no longer own by the Socolescu family, it has been sold in August 2010.

A friend and family gathering in the manor of Păulești in 1937.
A friend and family gathering in the manor of Păulești in 1937.

His Ploiești apartment house after having suffered badly the Anglo-American bombings of 1944, will be nationalized in 1950 and disfigured by a rehabilitation disconcerted to the original style of the construction. It will be partially returned to the family in 2006.[36]

Most of the finest works, houses and edifices of Ploiești, including several built by Toma T. Socolescu, his father Toma N. Socolescu or his uncle Ion N. Socolescu, were destroyed by the Communists, under pretext of weakness due to earthquake of 1940 and 1977. Disfigured by a policy of tabula rasa, the city has kept only a very small portion of its historic architecture.

After 1949, Toma T. Socolescu devoted his spare time to writing his memoirs. He continued to work on the project until the final year of his life in 1960. After more than fifty years of neglect by various Romanian institutions, including the University of Architecture of Bucharest, in 2004 his family published in Romania the first part of his memoirs called Amintiri (the only part he ever finished) which covers the period from his birth up to 1924. The Fresco of architects who have worked in Romania in the modern era from 1800 to 1925, a far more important work, was completed in 1955 and also published in 2004 by his family.[39] Both books are available at the National Library of Romania, also at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism. The Central University Library of Bucharest and the British Library also have a copy of the Fresco. In France, Amintiri can be found at the National and University Library of Strasbourg. His book dedicated to the architecture in Ploiești, Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric, published in 1937, was recognized by the Romanian Academy.[4] It is available at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

The first page of a small booklet he wrote in French in 1941[40] sums up his credo:[41]


        La puissance créatrice de notre peuple est complètement prouvée par son bel art populaire plusieurs fois millénaire ainsi que par l'architecture plus récente de nos églises, habitations princières et voïvodales.
        La Création étant le but suprême d'un peuple, c'est par notre apport personnel que nous justifierons notre existence de demain.
        En Architecture, il ne faut pas à tout prix rechercher le nouveau et nous garder des formules sacro-saintes, comme par exemple : il faut être de son temps. L'architecte ne peut rester en arrière, il a au contraire pour mission d'entraîner ses contemporains dans sa marche vers le progrès.
        L'architecture ne peut être internationale, elle doit être conservatrice et suivre évolutivement la chaine des traditions d'un peuple. La construction et la décoration, formant l'une le squelette, l'autre l'enveloppe, doivent se compléter et satisfaire aux deux exigences impérieuses : la logique et le sentiment.
        Un grand penseur européen H. Keyserling, croit que notre peuple est appelé à ressusciter l'art byzantin, qui est à la base de notre Église et de notre architecture et que par une reprise de nos traditions d'art, de l'esprit duquel a jailli l'art de notre passé, nous devons diriger nos pas vers une renaissance moderne de nos arts plastiques.

Official duties, titles and public responsibilities

Firstly man of arts and culture, Toma T. Socolescu will have a limited political commitment. His mandates of mayor, municipal councilor and deputy were indeed the means to move forward cultural, urban planning or architecture projects. Committed student and patriot, his strong links with Nicolae Iorga led him to take responsibility within his political party the Nationalist-Democrat Party.[42] However, remaining free and open, he developed many relationships and friendships with people from other political spectrums as Ion Ionescu-Quintus from the National Liberal Party, whose he was also very close.

His approach was to bring together all people of good will that wished to put the knowledge available for the greatest number, and embellish the city. His only political action, known at national level, is his support for the bill regarding the organization of the Corps of Architects and the Romanian Register of Architects in 1932. Adopted by parliament, a royal decree of application will be signed on 15 July 1932.[43]

Genealogy

The Socol family of Berivoiul-Mare, formerly part of Făgăraș or Făgăraș land is a branch of the Socol family of Muntenia, which lived in the county of Dâmbovița. A Socol, great boyar and son-in-law of Mihai Viteazul (1557–1601), had two religious foundations in the county of Dâmbovița, still existing, those of Cornești and Răzvadu de Sus. He did built their churches (and also another one in the suburb of Târgoviște). This boyar was married to Marula, daughter of Tudora din Popești, sister of Prince Antonie-Vodă. Marula has been recognized by Mihai Viteazul as his illegitimate daughter, following an extra-marital liaison with Tudora. Marula is buried in the cemetery of Răzvadu de Sus church, where, on a slab of richly carved stone,[48] her name can be read.

Nicolae Iorga, The great Romanian historian and friend of Toma T. Socolescu, has found Socol ancestors among the founders of the town of Făgăraș. Around 1846, five Socol brothers came to Muntenia, from Berivoiul-Mare, in the Land of Făgăraș where the name of Socol is widespread. It is told that an ancestor of Socol would come to Muntenia, including the region of Târgoviște, home of the family Socol, being so far next to Târgoviște, the Socol valley, and their two religious endowments Răzvadul de Sus and Cornești.[a 7]

One of these five brothers is the architect Nicolae Gh. Socol (?? - died in 1872). He settled in Ploiești and named himself Socolescu. Married with Iona Săndulescu, from the Sfantu Spiridon suburb, he had a daughter (died in infancy) and four boys,[a 8] of whom two major architects : Toma N. Socolescu and Ion N. Socolescu. Toma T. Socolescu is one of the child of Toma N. Socolescu.

Architectural contests

Practicing architecture as a profession, he will get many prizes in architectural design competition :

Remarkable architectural achievements

The Palace of Business Schools became the National College Ion Luca Caragiale in 1948.
The Palace of Business Schools became the National College Ion Luca Caragiale in 1948.

In Ploiești

The Courthouse, transformed into the Palace of Culture.
The Courthouse, transformed into the Palace of Culture.
Central Market Hall.
Central Market Hall.
Central Market Hall.
Central Market Hall.
Central Market Hall
The former Creditul Prahovei.
The former Creditul Prahovei.
The Scala cinematograph.
The Scala cinematograph.

In 1912, the architect had worked on the old St John the Baptist church. According to his plans, the main dome was elevated of 5 meters.[c 9]

The work was carried out between 1923[c 10] and 1939, the cathedral honors the dead of the First World War and is part of a national-religious momentum. The steeple is Classified Historical Monument.[38] Only the tower (a 60 meters high bell tower) and the first part of the work were completed,[a 12][c 11] the Second World War has stopped the work. The project for the rest of the building that would replace the existing church with a most monumental work will remain a project until recently. Work has resumed in 2008, inspired with Toma T. Socolescu's plans.

The facade is particularly unique to the time, and two monumental statues lines the entrance. The interior's furniture is remarkable. The pre-project, and the plans of the cathedral, will be published in the 1925 and 1926 issues of the Arhitectura journal.[d 8]

Cathedral St John the Baptist in Ploiești.
Statues and sculptures of the monumental entrance.
Cathedral St John the Baptist in Ploiești.

In the Prahova county

Archaeology and heritage conservation

The professor-architect had completed his studies in civil and religious architecture by a specialty in Romanian archaeology. He has always expressed an interest in architectural history and the preservation of architectural heritage. In addition to the renovation of old churches, he will work several times with Nicolae Iorga, Presiding the Historical Monuments Commission from 1919 onwards, in order to protect remarkable ancient edifices.

Saint Pantelimon church.
Saint Pantelimon church.
Neo-brâncovenesc porch of Saint Haralambie.
Neo-brâncovenesc porch of Saint Haralambie.
Another view of the same porch.
Another view of the same porch.
Religious works of Toma T. Socolescu

Other achievements

In Ploiești

The Scarlat Orăscu house.
The Scarlat Orăscu house.
The Scarlat Orăscu house.
The Scarlat Orăscu house.
The Scarlat Orăscu house
Hora țărănească in Ploiești, planned around 1913, destroyed around 1950.
Hora țărănească in Ploiești, planned around 1913, destroyed around 1950.
Villa of Zaharia Leon on strada Drosescu.
Villa of Zaharia Leon on strada Drosescu.
The house of Toma T. Socolescu in Ploiești. His own work.
The house of Toma T. Socolescu in Ploiești. His own work.
The Gheorghe Bogdan's building.
The Gheorghe Bogdan's building.
The Toboc building.
The Toboc building.
The Toboc building.
The Toboc building
The Ștefan Z. Ghica Ghiculescu house.
The Ștefan Z. Ghica Ghiculescu house.
The Ștefan Z. Ghica Ghiculescu house.
The Ștefan Z. Ghica Ghiculescu house.
The Ștefan Z. Ghica Ghiculescu house

In the Prahova county

T. T. Socolescu school.
T. T. Socolescu school.
D. Ștefănescu Villa around 1930.
D. Ștefănescu Villa around 1930.
Villa of Dr Gheorgiu.
Villa of Dr Gheorgiu.
The villa in 1925.
The villa in 1925.
The villa in 2009.
The villa in 2009.
Neo-brâncovenesc balcony.
Neo-brâncovenesc balcony.
The main door.
The main door.
Florica Socolescu villa
Royal house, Vălenii de Munte (plan).
Royal house, Vălenii de Munte (plan).

In Bucharest

The Tilman brothers building in Bucharest, around 1925
The Tilman brothers building in Bucharest, around 1925.
D. Ionescu villa, Bucarest
D. Ionescu villa, Bucarest.

In other counties

Attributed works (non-exhaustive list)

Toma T. Socolescu was very appreciated and in high demand to imagine the homes of prominent families in Romania. His writings, where he systematically stood in the background, demonstrate an obvious modesty and it appears with certainty.[b 22] He deliberately failed to list a number of works he has authored. Moreover, concerns related to the communist regime political police (Securitate) he was victim of, have probably pushed not to mention in his memoirs some places, for fear of harming other families. The Securitate was particularly fierce against the wealthy families of the interwar and did found any excuse to seize private property or to jail the people it disliked.

This part therefore aims at presenting a series of houses or buildings which style and signature recalls vividly to the know-how and the style of the famous architect. Besides, it seems that Toma T. Socolescu signed his works on the rooftops by a stylized reversed lily often made of zinc or copper. Wherever the original roof has not been modified, this unique signature is visible.

Finally, not to report these probabilities would be risking full oblivion for these houses in a country where access to the archives is very difficult, and where since the 1990s, an uncontrolled real estate sector ravages centuries of architecture. Moreover, the disappearance of former owners, often physically eliminated by the Communists, was frequently accompanied by a very likely irretrievable loss of useful information and documentation to identify with certainty the origin of these buildings.

strada Nicolae Bălcescu, No. 10.
strada Nicolae Bălcescu, No. 10.
Maison strada Cantacuzino, No. 17.
strada Cantacuzino, No. 17.
Maison strada Cantacuzino, No. 120.
strada Cantacuzino, No. 120.
Entry of house on strada Constanței, No. 3.
Entry of house on strada Constanței, No. 3.
strada Constanței, No. 3.
strada Constanței, No. 3.
strada Primaveri, No. 33.
strada Primaveri, No. 33.
strada Constanței, No. 7.
strada Constanței, No. 7.
Remarkable roof of house on strada Constanței, No. 7.
Remarkable roof of house on strada Constanței, No. 7.

Unbuilt architectural works

On the ten contests won by the architect, only two were achieved : the Creditul Prahovei and, partially, the Palace of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, both in Ploiești. In addition, many outstanding projects have never been done, including the following topics :

Publications

  1. Sfantu Nicolae church of Bălteni, county of Ilfov,[122] archaeological studies and topographic map. Published in 1908 in the first issue (Q1) under the title Architectural notes, pages 114 to 119.[123]
  2. Casa Hagi Prodan in Ploiești, archaeological studies and topographic map. Published in 1916[124] in the latest issue before the war. Having suffered from the bombings of 1944, the house was restored and the museum re-inaugurated on 1 May 1953.[b 24]
  3. Casa Dobrescu in Ploiești, a typical house of merchants and small manufacturers from the beginning of the 19th century, archaeological studies and topographic map.[72][a 14]
  1. Many illustrated articles on Romanian architecture.
  2. Portraits of disappeared architects including Ion N. Socolescu, Alexandru Clavel, D. Herjeu and Toma N. Socolescu.[d 21]
  3. Note de drum din Italia (Travel notes in Italy). A 7 pages illustrated article published in the issue of 1925.
  4. Plans and photographs of finished works, drawings and watercolors of old Romanian constructions. The issue of January–March 1941 contains an article dedicated to the old Romanian art in Bessarabia, illustrated on several pages with his own waterpaintings.
  5. A profession of faith entitled Principles and improvements, Towards a Romanian modern architecture in the April–June 1941 issue.[d 22] The author defends a notion of an art concerned with preserving the national cultural wealth, and the Romanian national genius, while seeking progress and modernity. The architect refutes any idea of international architecture. The same year, he will publish this article in a French version.[125]
  6. An article defending the idea of creating an institute dedicated to the promotion and development of the Romanian architecture : " An institute of Romanian architecture ", in the issue of 1943-1944.[d 23]
Old house of Ploiești as it was until the beginning of the XXth century.
Old house of Ploiești, (Județul Prahova, Romania) as it was until the beginning of the 20th century.
  1. Travel notes on Romania and Italy.
  2. Literary articles on Anna de Noailles, the Countess of Noailles (Brâncoveanu), Auguste Rodin, Octavian Goga, etc.
  3. Studies on some old houses and historical monuments of Ploiești, including in 1915 :

- an article about the ruins of the Saint Nicolas the Old church or Sfantu Nicolae Vechi (strada Mihai Bravu, 105)[126][c 16] - an article about an old house, similar to the Hagi Prodan house's style, located on strada Ștefan cel Mare, in front of the Saints Voivods (Sfînții Voevozi) church.[127] The church is at No. 23.

1. " Urbanism la îndemâna tuturor : pentru uzul consilierilor comunali și județeni, arhitecților, inginerilor, medicilor, ofițerilor, agronomilor și al tuturor persoanelor ce se interesează de mai buna stare a orașului " of Jean Raymond.[129]
2. " Igiena urbană / published by Paul Juillerat ", the translation of a reference book, published in 1921 in Paris, on the subject of urban hygiene.[130][b 25]
Ploiești Central Hall Pre-projet (1913) of Toma T. Socolescu, far from the final version adopted in 1929.
Ploiești Central Hall Pre-projet (1913) of Toma T. Socolescu, far from the final version adopted in 1929.
  1. Romania : two issues of the Arhitectura journal, that of 1931-1933 and of July 1936, propose a long article as well as numerous photographs;[d 24] the article published in July 1936 also appears in Monografia orașului Ploești between pages 597 and 603, as well as on pages 96 to 101 from the book Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric written by Toma T. Socolescu; in Ploieștii : on 21 April 1929, an article entitled " The building of the halls ", about a legal dispute over the Central Market Hall construction contract - in 1936, another article about a laudatory publication in the French magazine Techniques des Travaux; and Revista Veterinară.
  2. France : L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui, Paris, year 7, No. 11, November 1936, pages 44–45;[131] Techniques des Travaux; La Construction moderne : an illustrated study on the Central Market Hall of Ploiești, Paris, year 51, No. 46, September 1936, pages 945 to 955[132] written by the architect himself.
  3. United Kingdom : The Architect, London.
  4. Germany : Der Bauingenieur, Berlin, 26 May 1933, No. 14, Jahrgang, 1933, Heft 21-22.[133]
  5. Austria : A study by Professor Dr. Ing. R. Saliger and Dr. Ing. Friedrich V. Baravalle, Vienna

Newspaper articles

He published numerous articles in the Ploiești, Iași and Bucharest newspapers on issues like architecture, town planning, local politics and culture. He was also the subject of numerous articles. The following list is not exhaustive, and states when the architect is not the author.

Painting and architecture exhibitions

Watercolor painted by Toma T. Socolescu then transferred to the Museum of the City of Ploiești in the years 1920-1930. Subject : House of Ion Petre said Boiangiul, located in Ploiești, strada Ulierului.
Watercolor painted by Toma T. Socolescu then transferred to the Museum of the City of Ploiești in the years 1920-1930. Subject : House of Ion Petre said Boiangiul, located in Ploiești, strada Ulierului.

Sources

Bibliography

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Translation of the conclusion's last paragraph, page 72 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai SEVASTOS : page 212.
  2. ↑ page 23 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai SEVASTOS : page 163.
  3. 1 2 page 70 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : page 210.
  4. ↑ pages 92-93 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 818-819.
  5. ↑ pages 88 to 92 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 814 to 818.
  6. ↑ pages 85 to 92 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 811 to 818.
  7. ↑ Translation of the Romanian text page 37.
  8. ↑ pages 105-106 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 214-215.
  9. 1 2 3 page 62 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : page 202.
  10. 1 2 3 page 61 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : page 201.
  11. ↑ A long technical and architectural description, as well as illustrations, are displayed pages 95 to 101 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 597 to 603.
  12. ↑ pages 12-13.
  13. ↑ pages 69-70 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 209-210.
  14. 1 2 pages 20-21 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 160-161.
  15. ↑ page 69 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : page 209.
  16. ↑ page 86 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : page 42.
  17. 1 2 page 60 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : page 200.
  18. ↑ pages 37-38; pages 45 (photograph of the former Victoria hotel) and 47 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 177-178, pages 185 and 187.
  19. ↑ pages 57 and 59 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 197 and 199.
  20. ↑ pages 61-62 - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 201-202.
  21. ↑ pages 86 and 88. Toma T. Socolescu extensively describes the painter's style and work. He was a great Romanian watercolorist - Correspondence in Monografia orașului Ploești of Mihai Sevastos : pages 812 and 814.
  1. ↑ page 57.
  2. ↑ pages 92 to 95.
  3. 1 2 pages 84-85.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 page 43.
  5. ↑ page 84.
  6. ↑ pages 43-44.
  7. ↑ page 85.
  8. ↑ pages 66 to 69.
  9. ↑ pages 86-87.
  10. 1 2 Note at the bottom of page 43.
  11. ↑ page 42.
  12. ↑ pages 45-46.
  13. ↑ page 107.
  14. ↑ pages 71-72.
  15. 1 2 page 43, the architect wrote in his memoirs in the late 1950s, that it still exists.
  16. ↑ page 46.
  17. ↑ page 185.
  18. ↑ pages 50-51.
  19. ↑ page 51.
  20. ↑ pages 43 to 45. According to local sources, unconfirmed by the Royal House of Romania, it seems that the villa was used for the universities of the historian and politician Nicolae Iorga as part of the Princess Helena (Principesa Elena) foundation.
  21. ↑ Translated note written by Toma T. Socolescu, taken from his memoirs. The note (No. 30) appears at the bottom of page 53. The text (which the note is related to) specifies that the architect and the painter Toma Gh. Tomescu were still working on furnishings of the church in 1916.
  22. ↑ Hence, in the manuscript of his memoirs (page 7 of the book Amintiri), the author says, after enumerating a list of his personal works: "I listed above, only a portion of the work I performed as well as my work as an architect and my publications, considering it redundant to further extend this list, but also because it is difficult to remember all."
  23. ↑ page 31.
  24. ↑ page 85.
  25. ↑ page 93, note 49.
  26. 1 2 pages 55-56.
  27. ↑ The album of over 130 photographs of works by Mincu, the second volume of the monograph which is mentioned by the architect several times in his memoirs as on page 33 (in note below) and on the first page of the copy available at the library of the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, seems to have mysteriously disappeared from the documentary fund of the library.
  1. ↑ A long architectural and technical description, as well as illustrations, can be read between pages 597 and 603.
  2. ↑ pages 616 to 634.
  3. ↑ page 615.
  4. ↑ Ion Ionescu-Quintus (1875–1933) is the fifth son of Ghiță Ionescu, great banker, merchant and politician of Ploiești (1833–1898).
    • pages 429-430; Ghiță Ionescu.
    • pages 435-435; Ion Ionescu-Quintus.
  5. ↑ pages 422, 435 and pages 442-443. Toma T. Socolescu was Mayor from January to March 1920, and Chairman of the Interim Committee from December 1919 to March 1920, under the period of government Alexandru Vaida-Voevod from 1 December 1919 to 12 March 1920.
  6. ↑ page 444.
  7. ↑ page 435.
  8. ↑ page 584. The Halls will be opened on 1 November 1935.
  9. 1 2 page 752.
  10. ↑ page 751. Prince Carol II of Romania will lay the foundation stone on 18 November 1923.
  11. ↑ pages 152-153 and pages 751-752.
  12. ↑ pages 151-152 and page 756.
  13. ↑ pages 151-152 and page 761 : the monograph in deed evokes a fire, shortly after 1923, that would have consumed the great tower of the church.
  14. ↑ page 179, page 422, pages 433-434.
  15. ↑ page 630 - vintage photograph (1937).
  16. ↑ page 149.
  1. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Case vechi românești din Chișinău, watercolor reproductions, 1926, year V, page 98.
  2. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Vechea artă românească în Basarabia, issue of January–March 1941, year VII, No. 1, pages 122-124.
  3. ↑
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Palatul Ziarului Adevărul, drawing, 1916, year I, No. 2, May, page 67.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Palatul Adevărului, drawing, 1924, year III, page 147.
  4. 1 2 Toma T. Socolescu, Banca Creditul Prahovei Ploești, Plans, drawings and photographs, 1926, year V, pages 111 to 114.
  5. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu and D. Pretrescu-Gopeș, Concursul pentru Palatul Primăriei Orașului București, Plans and drawings - classed I, 1926, year V, pages 50-51.
  6. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, De la concursul "Astrei Române" pentru executarea cazinoului funcționarilor săi din Ploești - Un concurs de schițe, Plans, drawings and text, July–October 1937, issue No. 9-10, pages 19-20.
  7. ↑ Ernest Doneaud, Palatul Justiției din Ploești, drawing, 1924, year III, page 74.
  8. ↑
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Catedrală Monument "Sf. Ioan" a eroilor Prahovei, drawing dating of 1923, 1924, year III, page 144.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Catedrală Ortodoxă, Ante-proect, drawings, 1925, year IV, pages 73-74.
  9. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Vila Avocat Gr. Ivănceanu – Ploești, photograph, 1925, year IV, page 77.
  10. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Cavoul Fam. Gheorghiu, Ploești, photograph, 1925, year IV, page 54.
  11. ↑ Vila Ștefănescu la Câmpina, drawings and plans, 1916, year I, No. 2, may, page 66.
  12. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Vilă Regală - Vălenii de Munte, plan, 1930, year VI, page 43.
  13. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Vila N. Scorțeanu - Sinaia - "Cumpătul", photograph, 1925, year IV, page 76.
  14. ↑
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Vila proprie - Sinaia - "Cumpătul", outlook photographs and ground floor plan, 1925, year IV, pages 74-75.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Vilă la Sinaia, photograph, January–March 1941, year VII, No. 1, page 193.
  15. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Biserica din comuna Scăeni, județul Prahova, photograph and plan, March 1938, year IV, No. 11, pages 28-29.
  16. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, photograph, 1924, year III, page 143.
  17. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, photograph, 1924, year III, page 145.
  18. ↑
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Prop. Ing. Al. Gheorghiade. Parcul Bonaparte, photograph, 1926, year V, page 113.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Casa Gheorghiade, photograph, January–March 1941, year VI, No. 1, page 193.
  19. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Vila Ionescu – Șos. Kiseleff, photographs, 1930, year VI, pages 37-38.
  20. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Proect de biserică / Comuna Slănic-Prahova, article and plans, January 1920, pages 21 and 24.
  21. ↑
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Ioan N. Socolescu, article in memoriam, 1924, year III, page 146.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, A. Clavel. Câteva note, article in memoriam, 1925, year IV, pages 14-15.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, La mormântul lui D. Herjeu, article in memoriam, 1926, year V, pages 7-8.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Ion N. Socolescu, article in memoriam, January–March 1941, year VII, page 58.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Toma N. Socolescu, article in memoriam, January–March 1941, year VII, page 58.
  22. ↑ Toma T. Socolescu, Principii și îndreptări. Către o arhitectură românească modernă, article, April–June 1941, year VII, No. 2, pages 17-18.
  23. 1 2 Toma T. Socolescu, Un institut de Arhitectură românească, article, 1943-1944, years IX-X, pages 5-6.
  24. ↑
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Halele Centrale ale orașului Ploești, 5 indoor and outdoor photographs of the hall, 1931-1933, pages 40-41 and page 86.
    • Toma T. Socolescu, Halele Centrale Ploești, article, plans, drawings and photographs, July 1936, No. 6, pages 13 to 16 and pages 21 to 30.
  1. 1 2 3 Founded by Ion N. Socolescu in 1891 and become the Union of Romanian Architects (UAR) UAR internet site, historic
  2. ↑ Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric.
  3. ↑ (Romanian) Approved by the Higher Technical Council of the City, published in the (official) journal of 6 March 1935, No. 24.
  4. 1 2 3 (Romanian) Source : National Archives of Prahova County - Local Council collection of Păulești, File No. 12/1953-1957 : " Memories, autobiographical notes ", pages 22 and 23. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  5. 1 2 (Romanian) Source : National Archives of Prahova County - Prahova Prefecture fund :
    • File No. 265/1938, pages 1 to 74 : Prefecture appointment decision No. 1226 of 18/02/1938.
    • File No. 263/1940, page 1 to 4 : Prefecture Revocation decision No. 856 of 18/11/1940 and appointment of Grigore Dincă.
    • File No. 433/1942, pages 1,3,6 and 7 : Groups of people from Păulești asks to the Prefect that the Professor-architect is re-installed as mayor - Appointment decision by Prefecture No. 231 of 27/02/1942.
    • File No. 155/1945, pages 15 to 38, Prefecture revocation decision No. 71 of 29/01/1945.
    Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  6. ↑ Translation : the park with chestnut.
  7. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Municipal Council of Păulești 25 July 2007 decision, and historical disputes since 1995 - Link to the document.
  8. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Gazeta de Păulești, No. 4, February 2009, page 4 - Link to the document.
  9. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Municipal Council of Păulești 31 April 2007 decision - Link to the document - School name translation : Architect Toma T. Socolescu.
  10. ↑ (Romanian) Source : articles published in local newspapers :
  11. 1 2 Translation : Seventeenth-nineteenth Century City Dweller Museum - Museum internet site.
  12. ↑ Known from 1920 as Universitate Popularã N.Iorga
  13. ↑ (Romanian) Roșca, Maria: Maria Tănase. Privighetoarea din „Livada cu duzi”, volume II, Ed. Ginta Latină, București, 2000, page 347.
  14. ↑ (Romanian) Since 1965, the library is called : Biblioteca Județeană N. Iorga or County Library N. Iorga.
  15. ↑ A work of art made by his father Toma N. Socolescu.
  16. 1 2 Așezământul Nicolae Iorga.
  17. ↑ (Romanian) Art Museum of Ploiești.
  18. ↑ (Romanian) RepublicaPloiesti.net - Vintage photographs of the municipal baths. They will be demolished by the Communists around 1955 to make way for grey and styleless apartment buildings.
  19. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 449/1939, page 28 : Așezământul Nicolae Iorga, Inventory of Socolescu and Tomescu paintings, registered under No. 53/30/11/1945. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  20. ↑ They were kindly shown to Laura Socolescu, heir of the architect, by the museum curator in August 2009.
  21. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National Archives of Prahova County - Prahova Prefecture fund : File No. 97/1945, page 225 to 243, Investigation file against Toma T. Socolescu for incitement and sabotage agent of the Armistice Agreement - "Declaration of Toma T. Socolescu". Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  22. 1 2 3 (Romanian) Source : illustrated brochure on the painter Toma Gh. Tomescu Toma Gh. Tomescu 1881-1949, published by Arts Museum of Ploiești in 1974, thanks to the work of its director Ruxandra Ionescu. This brochure is archived at the Museum of Art. It was available in August 2009.
  23. ↑ The I.P.C. Institutul de Proiectare a Construcțiilor is renamed by Communists I.S.P.R.O.R. Institutul de Studii și Proiectare a Orașelor, on 1 January 1953.
  24. ↑ I.C.S.O.R. Institutul Central pentru sistematizarea orașelor și regiunilor.
  25. ↑ (Romanian) As his correspondence testifies :
    • An exchange of letters with the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church from 15 November 1959 to challenge some painting and furniture provided in the St. Elefterie Church of Bucharest (Biserica Sfântul Elefterie din București) - Source : Socolescu family archives / Paris, Correspondence No. 776 of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch's Office, dated 27 November 1959, signed by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
    • A detailed (11 pages) critical presentation sent to the Vice-President of the Regional Council of Ploiesti (Engineer Cristescu) following a conference held on 5 June 1959 at the Palace of Culture of the city, about the project of systematization of the town center - Source : Socolescu family archives / Paris.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 In September 2010.
  27. ↑ Liceul Toma N. Socolescu.
  28. ↑ Colegiul Ion N. Socolescu - Presentation and history page.
  29. ↑ (Romanian) Articles published in the local press in 2009 and 2010 :
  30. ↑ (Romanian) Articles published in the local press in 2011 :
  31. 1 2 (Romanian) Source : Municipal order No. 316 of 29/09/2010.
  32. ↑ Ploiești was a main oil source for the German Third Reich during the Second World War. It has been regularly bombed between 1942 and 1944 : see the Oil Campaign chronology of World War II.
  33. ↑ Sources :
    • (French) Le système Ceausescu. Utopie totalitaire et nationalisme insulaire, Catherine Durandin, published in the history journal : Vingtième Siècle, 1990, Volume 25, No. 25, pages 85-96 - Article permanent link in „Persée" review.
    • (French) Roumanie : la destruction radicale d’un patrimoine national, [s.a.], Continuité journal, No. 45, 1989, page 58 - Article permanent link in the journal on Erudit.org internet site ; PDF document on Erudit.org internet site.
    • The razing of Romania's past : international preservation report, Dinu C. Giurescu, Washington, D.C. : U.S. Committee, International Council on Monuments and Sites, Distributed by the Preservation Press, Kress Foundation : European Preservation Program of the World Monuments Fund, 1989, 68 pages, ISBN 0-911697-04-7, pages : 38-68 („Nationwide urban and rural destruction and resettlement" chapter) - PDF document on wmf.org internet site.
    • Houses that Cry: Online Civic Participation in Post-Communist Romania, Laura Visan, The McMaster Journal of Communication journal, produced by The Berkeley Electronic Press (bepress, York University, Vol. 7, Issue 1, 2011, pages 50-52 - PDF document on digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca internet site.
  34. ↑ Sources :
  35. ↑ (Romanian) SOS Casa Socolescu din Paulesti, Prahova, 2010, Costin Pătrașcu, Blog ART Arhitectura Românească Tradițională, Bucarest, published on 8 June 2009 - Article and pictures about the Socolescu manor of Păulești.
  36. 1 2 (Romanian)Sources :
    • Minutes No. 1177 of 28 March 2006, issued by the Heritage Department of the Ploiești Municipality, for partial possession of the building, following the decision No. 3855/2005 issued by the Mayor by which was restituted in kind (but partially) the building located on Ștefan cel Mare No. 2.
    • Socolescu family archives and photos / Bucharest, Paris : The commercial spaces and the cellar of the building will be occupied by a Russian-Roman joint society, or SovRoms in the 1950s, then by a food store and a bakery from 1956, and finally by various businesses from 1980-1990. Members of the Securitate and communists leaders will occupy a long time his property. When the building will be returned (only partly) by the City Council to his heiress in 2006, the cellar had been flooded and used as a dump, the courtyard had been used as public open toilets, the roof had been torn by wild antennas and part of the building was squatted by homeless people. The building had in fact not been maintained for over 30 years.
  37. ↑ (French) (Romanian) Source : Socolescu family / Bucharest, Paris. The Toma T.'s 'conac', or manor, has been completely looted and stripped of all its decorations, ornaments, tiles and equipment. The house has been returned in a state of half-ruin, on a very reduced land compared to its land before the forfeiture. The ornamental gardens, spread on several hectares, an original initiative for the time, created by Toma T., have totally disappeared. Many different constructions made in the 1990s, including a cooperative, have replaced it.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 (Romanian) Ministerul Culturii Și Cultelor, Institutul Național Al Monumentelor Istorice : List of Historical Monuments of Prahova County - 2004.
  39. ↑ (Romanian) A typewritten version had already been available in Bucharest at the Union of Romanian Architects Library, and also at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism Library, probably since 1955.
  40. ↑ (French) Vers une architecture roumaine moderne - Translation : Towards a Romanian modern architecture.
  41. ↑ En français dans le texte.
  42. 1 2 Partidul Naționalist-Democrat - Political party founded in 1910 by Nicolae Iorga.
  43. ↑ Legea privind Corpul Arhitecților din România Și a Registrului Arhitecților :
    - Union of Architects of Romania internet site - page "Istoric" .
    - University of Architecture and Urbanism Ion Mincu internet site - page "Istoric".
  44. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Socolescu family archives / Paris, admission form to the Union of Architects of the Popular Republic of Romania - Minutes of 3 and 10 April 1953, membership card No. 311, 30 November 1953.
  45. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Ploieștii newspaper, year VII, article of 12 May 1929.
  46. 1 2 (Romanian) Source : Toma T. Socolescu, Autobiography upon admission to Rotary Club of Ploiești, Mesagerul rotarian, 24/04/1937, page 87.
  47. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Socolescu family archives / Paris - Sinaia, Decree of 25 June 1925. The appointment was made following a report by the Foreign Minister, Chancellor of the Order, reference No. 30578. The deed is in possession of the Socolescu family.
  48. ↑ Inclusion of the cross on the tombstone of Răzvadu de Sus : " Died, the servant of God Marula, Master of the Royal Court Lady of Messire Socol, former Grand Master of the Royal Court, daughter of the late Prince Mihai and Lady Tudora, in the year 1647, during the reign of Prince Ion Matei Basarab in December the 17th day, around the tenth hour of the night, solar calendar of the 21st year ", according to the Romanian translation done by G.D Florescu in 1944 from an original slavon version : " A răposat roaba lui Dumnezeu Marula clucereasa jupanului Socol fost mare clucer, fiică a răposatului Io Mihai Voevod și a jupînesei Tudora la anul 1647 în zilele lui Ion Matei Basarab voevod în luna decembrie 17 zile spre al zecilea ceas din noapte crugul solar temelia 21 ".
    (Romanian) Source : G.D. Florescu,Idem, "Un sfetnic al lui Matei Basarab, ginerele lui Mihai Viteazul", în Revista istorică română, XI–XII, 1941-1942, pages 88–89.
  49. ↑ (Romanian) Front page of the issue No. 3616 28 March 1914.
  50. ↑ Cathedral construction history on the Târgu Mureș Town hall internet site - cathedral history.
  51. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Dimineața newspaper, Bucharest, "Celebration of architect Toma T. Socolescu", published on 12 July 1925.
  52. ↑ Palatul Ministerului Lucrărilor Publice.
  53. ↑ Palatul Școalelor Comerciale.
  54. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Informația Prahovei newspaper article of 22 December 2010 : "136 de ani de învățământ comercial prahovean"
  55. ↑ (Romanian) The name and location of this school has changed often since the origin of its establishment : Internet site of the National College Ion Luca Caragiale, page "Istoric"
  56. ↑ Casa corpului Didactic also called Căminul învățătorilor prahoveni.
  57. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Școala și Vieața, revista Asociației Generale a Învățătorilor din România, an.X, nr. 1, sept. 1939, director T. D. Iacobescu, pages 155 to 255 - Reference found on the "Testimony" (testimoniale) page, Prahova pragraph, from the Romania General Association of Teachers internet site : Asociația Generală a Învățătorilor din România.
  58. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 42/1932, page 72, invitation to the inauguration ceremony sent by the Teaching Body Society to the Mayor of the city. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  59. ↑ Ligii Județene a Sindicatelor Libere din Învățământ Prahova.
  60. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Ploiești Teachers' Union History .
  61. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Prahova Prefecture fund : File No. 97/1927, contract signed between the Prefecture and architects Toma T. Socolescu and Ernest Doneaud in 1923, along with other documents. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  62. 1 2 (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 52.145/1912, pages 1 to 40: Acts related to the construction of the market hall, contract No. 9088/913 established between the City and the architect Toma T. Socolescu; correspondences of 1912, 1913 and 1929; complete plans of the hall pre-project dating from 1913. Notes : researches of the Socolescu family conducted on 21/01/2010.
  63. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 201/1930, pages 4-5 : Municipal Council Minutes No. 1 11 June 1930 in which was agreed the implementation of the Central Hall. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  64. ↑ (Romanian) Ploieștii newspaper, article " The Central Market hall construction " of 21 avril 1929, written by Eugeniu Ionescu.
  65. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 92/1936, pages 17 to 20 : project (plans and holographic texts of the author) of a whosale hall, located behind the Central Market Hall. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  66. ↑ (Romanian) RepublicaPloiesti.net - The old Ploiești and the localization of the Union Square (Piață Unirii) : "Gradina publica", "Bulevardul Independentei", "Hora Taraneasca", "Statuia Libertatii" articles and photographs.
  67. ↑ Gérard Joseph Duqué was at that time president of the Ploiești Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Source : Gérard Joseph Duqué, traversandu-și epoca (1866–1956), page 105.
  68. ↑ Liceu de Băieți din Câmpina.
  69. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Correspondences preserved in the archives of the Education Ministry / Nicolae Grigorescu National College Official internet site - pages "istoric" and "baza materiala".
  70. ↑ The architect wrote in 1938, in Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric, that the objects were still there.
  71. ↑ (Romanian) Nicolae Iorga, BCMI, Fasc. 59, Year XXII, 1929, page 94 - Sources : Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric, page 70 and Monografia orașului Ploești, page 210.
  72. 1 2 (Romanian) Toma T. Socolescu, Casa Dobrescu din Ploiești, BCMI, Fasc. 48, year XIX, 1926, pages 58 to 60.
  73. ↑ Muzeul Ion L. Caragiale.
  74. ↑ Constantin Trestioreanu, Gheorghe Marinică,Bicericile din Ploiești, I Bisericile orthodoxe - pages 83-84.
  75. ↑ Constantin Trestioreanu, Gheorghe Marinică,Bicericile din Ploiești, I Bisericile orthodoxe - pages 103-104.
  76. ↑ Dan Todesrașcu.
  77. ↑ (Romanian) Sources :
  78. ↑ In an administrative reorganization that occurred in 1968, the villages of Herești, Hotarele, Izvoarele and Scărișoara constituted a new town called Hotarele in the județ of Giurgiu (Giurgiu County).
  79. ↑ The exact address has been confirmed in September 2009 by the heir of the teacher, Filip Nicolae. He now lives in this ground floor house.
  80. ↑ (Romanian) RepublicaPloiesti.net Strada Lipcani article and photographs.
  81. ↑ (Romanian) Toma T. Socolescu, Fresca arhitecților care au lucrat în România în epoca modernă 1800 - 1925, Editura Caligraf Design, Bucarest, 2004, 1 vol., 209 pages, page 46.
  82. ↑ Source: visite of the house by the Socolescu family, France) in September 2010. The style is in deed "Socolescu".
  83. ↑ (Romanian) The building has been nationalized by application of the 92/1950 decree - Direct link to the decree (Romanian Chamber of Deputies).
  84. ↑ (Romanian) RepublicaPloiesti.net - Casa Gheorghe Bogdan article and photographs .
  85. ↑ F. Dragomirescu Family, living next to the building on strada Ștefan cel Mare, at No. 37.
  86. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Issue of 9 March 2010 from the newspaper Adevărul de Ploiești Direct link to the article..
  87. ↑ (Romanian) Article and TV reporting of Valea Prahovei TV entitled Nou monument de arhitectură în Ploiești or A new architectural monument in Ploiești, broadcast on 22/01/2011 - Mihai Bădulescu's Interview about his house.
  88. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Mihai Bădulescu, Ploiești, August 2009.
  89. ↑ (Romanian) Ministry of Culture and National Heritage : Classification decree No. 2561 4 October 2010.
  90. ↑ (Romanian) Sources :
    • Ziarul Prahova Newspaper article of 20/03/1927.
    • A 1932 press article presenting the films that were played in Ploiești from 20 May – 5 June 1932, including the "Odeon" movie theater, Informatorul newspaper, Ploiești, 24 May 1932 issue - A 1932 press advert in Informatorul newspaper.
  91. ↑ (Romanian) Decree No. 303 of 3/11/1948 - The cinema Odeon, ploiești is listed in the attached table.
  92. ↑ State Theater of Ploiești.
  93. ↑ (Romanian) Sources :
  94. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Article and photographs of the Communist newspaper Flamura Prahovei from Mai 11, 1957. The issue is available in the old newspapers archives of the Central University Library of Bucharest.
  95. ↑ (Romanian) Toma Caragiu theater.
  96. ↑ Bancă Centrală din Ploiești, a remarkable building designed by the architect I. Negrescu, based on the Charles Garnier's style, for Ghiță Ionescu and belonging to the banker Max Shapira. The bank had to leave during the bank crisis of 1929-1933. The area hosts a bakery and then a fabric store. Nationalized in 1950, the building will then be converted into a food store (Mercur) on the ground floor, and a shoemaker on the floor.
    Vintage photographs are available on RepublicaPloiesti.net : Bancă Centrală din Ploiești article and photographs.
  97. ↑ Hanul Ţărănesc de la Bariera Bucov.
  98. ↑ Source : National Archives of Prahova County. Note : researches of Lucian Vasile, Ploiești, conducted in 2010.
  99. ↑ (Romanian) Main source : Asociației Nationale Cultul Eroilor, filiala Prahova. However this information is not corroborated.
  100. ↑ (Romanian) Source : book about the life of Gérard Joseph Duqué, Gérard Joseph Duqué, traversandu-și epoca (1866–1956), DUQUÉ Vincent G. and Paul D. Popescu, Editura Milenium III, Ploiești, 2006, 1 volume, 189 p. ISBN 973-87924-5-2 and ISBN 978-973-87924-5-6, pages 134-135.
  101. ↑ (Romanian) ceașcadecultură.ro - Photographs and article on the house.
  102. 1 2 The Romanian translation is Judecatoria, corresponding to the Magistrates' Court (England and Wales).
  103. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National Archives of Prahova County - Prahova Prefecture fund : File No. 50/1924, pages 1 to 16, drawings and plans signed by Socolescu and stamped by the Administration, dated 12/08/1924. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  104. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Romanian Ministry of Justice internet site - Courts of law portal Judecatoria Câmpina.
  105. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National Archives of Prahova County - Prahova Prefecture fund : File No. 39/1923, pages 1 to 21, According to T T. Socolescu's plans, the work started on 1 September 1921. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  106. ↑ Capela Sfânta Treime.
  107. 1 2 (French) Source : Le Style National Roumain - Construire une nation à travers l'architecture (1881–1945), Carmen Popescu, 2004, Presses Universitaires de Rennes - Simetria - page 272.
  108. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Monograph of Dumbrăvești town, page 29 : Link to the document.
  109. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Institutul de Memorie Culturala - CIMEC Institutul de Memorie Culturala - Biserica "Izvorul Tămăduirii și Nașterea Maicii Domnului".
  110. ↑ The commune of Scăeni has been merged with Boldești in 1968.
  111. 1 2 (Romanian) Source : Monograph of Cristian Petru BĂLAN : Monografia orașului Boldești-Scăieni, Ploiești, Editura Premier, 2007, 253 pages, ISBN 978-973-740-062-8, page 99 - Monografia orașului Boldești-Scăieni.
  112. ↑ (Romanian) Source : a commercial book of the Great Romania dating from 1925 available on the Library of Congress under reference Anuarul "Socec" al României-mari, vol.1 mentions on page 272, the address of a tailor Weintraub S-sor & Irimia Weisberg, whose store is located in the building. Its sign is visible on an old photograph of the building. On the other hand, its style is very similar to that of Creditul Prahova of Ploiești done around 1923. Another old picture shows an already blackened façade, so the photographic view has very likely been made several years after construction.
  113. ↑ (Romanian) Ministerul Culturii Și Cultelor, Institutul National al Monumentelor Istorice : List of Historical Monuments in the City of Bucharest - 2004.
  114. ↑ Grupul Scolar Economic, Administrativ si de Servicii "Barbu A. Stirbey" Buftea.
  115. ↑ Photographs on the Romanian internet site "MNIR".
  116. ↑ (Romanian) Ministerul Culturii Și Cultelor, Institutul National al Monumentelor Istorice : List of Monuments Historical Department Ilfov - 2004.
  117. ↑ Source : M. Pǎtrascu, current owner of the house of strada Primaveri. The other house on strada Decebal is degraded and inhabited by Gypsies.
  118. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 45/1922, pages 1, 2, 72 and 112 : Letters and original drawings on layers from Toma T. Socolescu - Memorial act for the public garden inauguration on 24 May 1926. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  119. ↑ (Romanian) Source : National archives of Prahova county - Ploiești City archives : File No. 124/1937, pages 1, 4 and 5 : The architect plans movie theaters and theaters, a library, an art gallery, exhibition halls, a museum, etc. Note : researches of engineer Constantin Ilie, Ploiești, conducted from 26/10/2009 to 09/02/2010.
  120. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Socolescu family archives / Paris, Complete file of the project.
  121. ↑ (Romanian) In Romanian : Buletinul Comisiunii Monumentelor Istorice, published between 1908 and 1945, under the initial direction of the historian Nicolae Iorga, the publishing will thereafter be stopped during 25 years.
  122. ↑ (Romanian) Monastery images and comments on the internet site of
  123. ↑ (Romanian) Toma T. Socolescu, Biserica din Bălteni : Note arhitectonice, BMCI, anul 1, 1908, p 114. The journal is available at Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism library - Internet site of the Library : Link. In the same issue, pages 112 and 113 include the Descriptives notes of Nicolae Iorga.
  124. ↑ (Romanian) Toma T. Socolescu Casa Hagi Prodan din Ploiești, studiu arheologic și releveu, BMCI, 1916, Fasc. 34, p 82 - Source : Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric, page 16. The publications of year 1916 (issues 33 and 34) are absent from the library collection of the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism.
  125. ↑ (French) Toma T. Socolescu, Vers une architecture roumaine moderne, Extract of the Bulletin de l'École Polytechnique de Bucarest, year XII, Nos. 1 and 2, Tipărire Finanțe Si Industrie, strada Poetul Mecedonschi No. 8, București, 1941, 5 pages.
  126. ↑ (Romanian) Toma T. Socolescu, România Viitoare, Anul 1, No. 45, article "O ruină", Ploiești, 17 May 1915 - Source : Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric, page 9.
  127. ↑ (Romanian) Toma T. Socolescu, România Viitoare, Anul 1, No. 45, Ploiești, 17 May 1915 - Source : Arhitectura în Ploești, studiu istoric, page 20.
  128. 1 2 Translation : In Transylvania, Travel notes of an architect.
  129. 1 2 Translation : City planning for all, for use of county and municipal councilor, architects, engineers, doctors, agents, agronomists, and all persons interested in a better condition of their city. - Original book of RAYMOND Jean, L'urbanisme à la portée de tous à l'usage des fonctionnaires et conseillers municipaux, des coloniaux (officiers, ingénieurs, architectes, administrateurs) et de toutes personnes s'intéressant au mieux être dans la cité, Editions Dunod, Preface of Renée Dautry, Paris, 1925, 187 pages.
  130. 1 2 (French) Paul Juillerat, L'hygiène urbaine, Edition Ernest Leroux (Collection Urbanisme. Série I), Paris, 1921, 254 pages.
    The book includes an introductive study written by the architect from page 89 to 92. Paul Juillerat (1854–1935) was Head of the Technical Department of Sanitation and Housing in the Prefecture de la Seine (Paris). He proposed in 1894 a genuine system of health information on the 70,000 Parisian buildings, based on the principle of field surveys. He records the presence of equipment, cleanliness and state of maintenance of buildings communal areas. (French) Source : L’enquête sanitaire urbaine à Paris en 1900 (Sanitary survey in Paris in 1900) by Yankel Fijalkow / Université de Paris 7 / CNRS. LOUEST - 2004.
  131. ↑ (French) The scanned article is available at the Bibliothèque de la Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine : Direct link to the document.
  132. ↑ (French) The scanned article is available at the Bibliothèque de la Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine : Direct link to the document.
  133. ↑ (French) The article is available at the library of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland) but in restricted access : Link to the journal reference at the EPFL.
  134. ↑ Mayor of Ploiești from March 1939 to September 1940.
  135. ↑ (Romanian) Led by the writer I. N. Theodorescu Arghezi, 2nd year, No. 67, 22 May 1916, entitled Cu prilejul exposiției de arhitectură T.T. Socolescu signed by Spiridon Cegăneanu.
  136. ↑ (Romanian) Source : Virtutea newspaper article, 24/05/1930.
  137. 1 2 3 Translation : Architecture in Ploiești, historical study.
  138. ↑ Library of the Ion Mincu Architecture and Urbanism University.
  139. ↑ Central University Library Carol I of Bucharest (Biblioteca Centrală Universitară Carol I).
  140. ↑ Arhivele Naționale ale României : Direcția Județeană Prahova a Arhivelor Naționale Link to the address of the Prahova archives department
  141. 1 2 Translation : Memoirs.
  142. ↑ The work is available :
  143. ↑ Translation : Fresco of the architects who have worked in Romania in the modern era from 1800 to 1925.
  144. ↑ The book is available :
  145. ↑ The book is available :
  146. ↑ Translation : Monograph of the City of Ploiești.
  147. ↑ The monograph can be found :
  148. ↑ (Romanian) The book is available at the Central University Library Carol I of Bucharest, reference UNITATEA CENTRALA : 13869.
  149. ↑ Translation : Town planning for everyone.
  150. ↑ (Romanian) The book is available :
  151. ↑ Translation : Monograph of Ion Mincu.
  152. ↑ (Romanian) A copy of the monograph, offered by the architect around 1958, is available at the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism library - Internet site of the Library : Direct link.
  153. ↑ The book is available :
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toma T. Socolescu.
- Bucureștii Vechi si Noi
- Bucureștii Vechi locuri si istorie
- locuri în București...și istorii despre ele
- Unknown Bucharest
- Official list of historical monuments of Prahova county : Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004.
- Official appendix of corrections regarding the Official list of historical monuments of Prahova county : Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004 - Modificări Si Completări.
- Official list of historical monuments of Ilfov county : Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004.
- Official list of historical monuments of Bucharest : Lista Monumentelor Istorice 2004.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.