“Identity” in the approach of architecture and urbanism during the socialist-communist period in Romania
“Identity” in the approach of architecture and urbanism during the socialist-communist period in Romania

Summary/Abstract: This article approaches the topic of “identity” with regards to the production of architecture and urbanism in Romania during what is often labelled as the “communist” or “socialist” era (circa 1944-1989). As the theme and concept of “identity” (using this specific word) seems to be gaining considerable exposure and attention in recent years as it’s being approached by various researchers and professionals of different backgrounds, this article tries to conjugate the issue of identity in the field of architecture and urbanism, focusing on the time interval mentioned above (namely a period that can be labelled as the “socialist-communist” period). In this respect, the article tries to outline some of the most important identitary coordinates of the architecture and urbanism that was practiced in the socialist-communist period in Romania. In doing so, the article will visit some aspects of architectural identity, urban identity and cultural identity in regard to buildings and cities in the study period. The focus will especially be on buildings, groups of buildings and urban areas (such as city centres and central urban ensembles) that have a somewhat powerful representative function and/or underlying valence of representativeness – being representative for a city, for a community, for an ideology, for an aesthetic orientation, etc.. Here, the issue of “identity” will especially be investigated and presented through its role as premise or justification for an urban project or for the design of a representative building. And in trying to understand the identitary aspects and implications of various projects and realisations, the issue of “identity” will primarily be presented as it was approached by some of the most relevant stakeholders in the issue, such as the architects and the politicians. The role and influence of politics, politicians and ideology are particularly specific for the study period, being considerably relevant for the topic of “identity”.

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