H Victoriei 139 Interiors

The collective residential building at 139 Calea Victoriei is a discreet presence, particularly to an untrained eye that would focus more on the details of the nearby Cantacuzino Palace. It is one of the lesser-known buildings designed by architect Arghir Culina, perhaps the main exponent of the Art Deco movement in Bucharest. Even without being declared a historic monument, the building exhibits remarkable features, proportions, and details that sensibly mark the intersection between Calea Victoriei and Gheorghe Manu Street.

Originally conceived as a residential building for the privileged class, with public spaces on the ground floor, the building has deteriorated in recent years. After 2016, the commercial spaces closed, and the building was classified as a high-risk seismic zone. The last tenants left in 2017, after which the building underwent an extensive process of renovation and restoration. Through this intervention, the building receives a new lease on life, and the city recovers a part of its history.

In the interior design, the aim was to create a cohesive connection with the building’s history while maintaining a pleasant, high-end, boutique atmosphere. A discreet contrast between white and black finishes was heavily emphasized, with golden metallic inserts on elevators, doorbells, lamps, and floor inserts. Upon entering, you are greeted by an Art Deco geometric motif present on the building’s entrance doors, a detail that serves as a prelude to the feeling of being at home in “Little Paris.”