Imagining three office buildings, located in three important-urban spots, for a single beneficiary, represents a challenge for any architect. "Challenged", we tried to shape the common language elements to be suggested in the context of the buildings' individuality. It was necessary for the language, in its turn, to be visible in our elaboration; so, we were facing, pragmatically, with a serious problem: the approach of the impact of the ASTRA COMPANY upon the individual " a possible client. We syntactically chose the POWER - TRUST - STABILITY " EVOLUTION relation. We moulded the result on the semantic motivation THEME - BENEFICIARY - SITE - PERCEPTION and ARCHITECTURAL ASSIMILATION BY THE DIRECT BENEFICIARY AND BY THE PUBLIC. Finished at the end of 1999, we think that the ASTRA headquarters represent a "sign" in the symbolic text defining Romanian post-Decembrist and end of the 20th century architecture.
TEXT: ARH. EDUARD CHIS, PENTADESIGN

As the architect of this intervention upon his own apartment is very young, we dare an original presentation of the situation. The file: architect Cosmin Frolu. The theme: functional reinterpretation and decorative strengthening. Objective: 2-room apartment, with increased discomfort. Deficiencies: a small initial space and divided by functions. Advantages: a very good behaviour of the architect's vision, fitted on a relatively small financial investment. A range of utilitarian-esthetical approaches included in the optimal space use. Niche for decorative objects, with a coral painted background, the solid wood plate shelf, pieces of furniture such as box-tables, the low, metal, red wardrobe that discretely divides the entrance area from the kitchen area, the metal structure with wooden shelves, designed in this sector around the adapting pieces and the heater, the bedroom console.
TEXT: ARH. EVA ROSETTI
FOTO: ARH. MIHAI RAICU

The beginnings of this place that managed to stay in the city's consciousness go back to the first half of the 19th century, when four out of the twelve sons of the Dumitru Capsa the skinner " a well-to-do tradesman, who, once a year, went to Lipsca (Leipzig) to buy merchandise " decide to open a confectionery as the locals had never seen before, with confections the locals hadn't tasted before, with drinks the locals hadn't drunk before. A great idea, as the competition was outnumbered: Giovanni's confectionery under the Bossel hall, across the street from the place where the National Theatre would be built later on (destroyed by the bombings during World War II), Comorelli's, that later brought the famous Fialkovsky, from the Roman Passage (where the Muzica store presently stands), and also about three or four smaller ones, located in the Cismigiu or the Biserica Alba area.... Just as so many other monuments of the Romanian patrimony would deserve, Casa Capsa had the chance to be restored recently, in a professional, correct manner, with warm and tasteful materials. The restoration meant to resurrect for us, nowadays people, the spirit of those times that were the glory of Bucharest in the past. Under the careful and firm supervision of the Monument Directorate, the team of architect Adina Dinescu (the TransAlpin design company) and the Constructii Baneasa company accomplished (and are still doing it) a very high quality work, that proves a remarkable understanding of the architectural volume, but also of its history and respect for the heritage of the past (the restoration included not only the building, but also the furniture, mirrors and various other original well-preserved objects). The Capsa House has thus the chance to continue its last century fame.
TEXT: ARH. CODINA DUSOIU