Founded at the end of the 19th century by
architect Ion Mincu, the neo-Romanian architectural style intertwines elements
of the peasant and Brâncovenesc styles in a new mix that was swiftly adopted
and adapted by architects in the early 20th century. Bucharest in
particular, but many other cities from the former Principality of Wallachia,
are living evidence of how fast the neo-Romanian style expanded. One of the
iconic representatives of this style was architect Cristofi Cerchez, whose life
has been documented by art historian Oana Marinache.
Cristofi Cerchez was born Cristofi Hristea in July 1872
into a very numerous family. It seems there were 18 siblings in total, but
unfortunately, due to the hardships and illnesses of the 19th
century, the life of many family members was cut short, and only three boys and
three girls made it to adulthood. Still, it was a family of certain financial
means. Their father administered large estates for important noblemen, which
meant they moved around a lot. Ever since his teens, Cristofi was given the
opportunity of familiarizing himself with vernacular architecture during his
numerous journeys abroad. He originally enrolled in the School for roads and
bridges, at the time the only form of technical higher education. Later he was
the beneficiary of a private scholarship, granted by the widow of a famous
local surgeon, Turnescu, and so went to Milan. There, he had the opportunity of
enrolling in the Polytechnics school, taking up a major in civilian
architecture. He also started developing his artistic skills, since Milan
provided every opportunity to help further his later training and activity. His
academic path differed extensively from that of his peers. Most young Romanians
would go to Paris to study at the Fine Arts school, but Cerchez was from the
very start influenced by architect Ion Mincu, the forefather of the
neo-Romanian style. Although they were set 20 years apart, Cristofi Cerchez
studied the building of the Central School for Girls in Bucharest and Mincu’s
first works, whereas his first own creations observed the neo-Romanian style in
a fashion much similar to Mincu’s.
Today, Cristofi Cerchez is considered one of the most
illustrious exponents of the neo-Romanian style in towns across the country,
setting the tone for architectural elements specific to 19th century
market towns, dominated by a middle class made up of traders and merchants.
Some of these were actually Cerchez’s patrons, and their homes have endured to
this day, as Oana Marinache told us.
From a professional point of view, Cristofi Cerchez
initially distinguished himself in the towns where he had studied or worked:
Câmpulung Muscel, Alexandria and Constanța,
where for a brief period of time he worked at the Constanța City Hall technical
service. It was only at the end of 1905 that he came to Bucharest to work on
one the most important commissions of his career, one of the best-known villas
in Bucharest, owned by doctor Nicolae Minovici, also known as the Roadside
Bells Villa. It’s a commission that actually opened up vistas for further
participation in the authorities’ hospital architecture program. Cerchez built
the Ambulance Society, a building which was unfortunately leveled during the
World War II bombing. Additionally, he designed buildings for the laboratories
of the Institute for Forensic Medicine, where the Minovici brothers were very
active as directors. He also designed other important buildings, of which I
would only mention the Polizu Maternity Hospital in Bucharest, which was very
known to the local population and which was also part of the authorities’
hospital architecture program.
In the southern Carpathians, architect Cerchez also left his
mark on numerous buildings.
In Vălenii de Munte mountain resort,
Cristofi Cerchez designed numerous buildings towards the end of his career.
Shortly after the great earthquake of 1940, Cerchez got involved in the
restoration of religious buildings affected by the quake. He was also appointed
to build a headquarters for the Trade Bank in Văleni, as well as a home for its
director. He finished the projects over 1941-1942. Basically, his activity
spans from the end of the 19th century and up to 1945. The last ten
years of his life are very quiet. The artist did very little work and had a lot
of financial troubles, as his properties were seized by the authorities. Still,
he leaves behind an impressive career spanning over 45 years.
Architect Cristofi Cerchez died on January 15, 1955, aged
67. (VP)