Establishing Power through Destruction
The heritage demolitions that took place in Bucharest to realize a dictator’s dream of the ideal socialist city
B.I. Niţu (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Sabina Tanović – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
The thesis analyses the extensive demolitions that happened in Bucharest in the 1980s, during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s communist regime, when a substantial part of the historic city center was destroyed to make way for the Civic Center and the House of the Republic, which later became the Palace of Parliament. The demolitions led to the loss of valuable heritage architecture, deeply altering the urban and social fabric of the city. By analysing available literature, archival images, and case studies, the research examines how this period of urban restructuring has influenced contemporary urban planning and heritage architecture in post-communist Bucharest. The investigation aims to discover whether the precedent set by Ceaușescu’s demolitions facilitated further heritage destruction in the capitalist, modern context, driven by economic and political interests. Additionally, it addresses the present challenges of preserving heritage architecture and integrating new urban developments within the historic context. This research focuses on providing a deeper understanding of the long-term consequences of the communist demolitions in Bucharest and their relevance to current discussions on heritage conservation and urban identity restoration.