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I think The Palace of the Parliament is grotesque. Only megalomaniac dictators (like Ceausescu) would build something like that.
The Pyramids, Versailles, Louvres, Colosseum, Diocletian's Palace etc, all were done by tyrans / dictators, despots but are masterpieces.
If you would have visited the Palace of Parliament you'd be overhelmed by the amount of details in decorations and about its good taste. There were hundreds of architects working at it (I talked much with the guy who designed the chandeliers and who is a very educated man). There is nothing grotesque in it, watch the videos I put.
It is not as famous as it deserves because of lack of visibility and prejudices of foreigners about Romania. But those who visited it are impressed, to not say shocked. It gives you a new sense of space.
This is the biggest room, the Ballroom, where one can easily fly a helicopter:
The same room is the only that communicates with the official balcony, from which you can watch the 3,5 km long, 90 m wide Unification Boulevard, the most magnificent boulevard in Europe:
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CARPATHIAN
The Pyramids, Versailles, Louvres, Colosseum, Diocletian's Palace etc, all were done by tyrans / dictators, despots but are masterpieces.
If you would have visited the Palace of Parliament you'd be overhelmed by the the amount of details in decorations and about its good taste. There were hundreds of architects working at it (I talked much with the guy who designed the chandeliers and who is a very educated man). There is nothing grotesque in it, watch the videos I put.
It is not as famous as it deserves because of lack of visibility and prejudices of foreigners about Romania. But those who visited it are impressed, to not say shocked.
I'm surprised it was done in such a classical style. It was a monument to excess but like you say, so are most of the great wonders of the world. Surely we can appreciate it for what it is? Many died building the pyramids or the great wall of China, isn't that even worse?
Imagine if Hitler's Germania became a reality. How would people react to it today? Well in some ways some of those old despots were just as ruthless and megalomaniac.
I'm surprised it was done in such a classical style. It was a monument to excess but like you say, so are most of the great wonders of the world. Surely we can appreciate it for what it is? Many died building the pyramids or the great wall of China, isn't that even worse?
Imagine if Hitler's Germania became a reality. How would people react to it today? Well in some ways some of those old despots were just as ruthless and megalomaniac.
The Bucharest Parliament have perfect proportions, is well integrated in its location and is equilibred in most respects. The only bad thing is that a large part of the historical city, including many churches and synagogues (the Jewish Neighborhood was erased) were razed for it. Overall, I would prefered not to be built or to be built in other place (although if not in central position, wouldn't have similar effect).
As for the moral aspects of building such things, ofcourse is immoral. On other hand, if are not such nutcases like ceaușescu etc, you won't have buildings very impressive, because they're not impressive only by size but also by their message.
Some photos made by me with the Parliament and the Unification Boulevard in front of it (more on my photo thread):
On the boulevard there are 40 fountains with complicated sculptures. Of these 40 fountains, 13 of monumental sizes are found in the Unification Square (which is where the Unification Boulevard intresects the north-south thoroughfare of the city).
The Pyramids, Versailles, Louvres, Colosseum, Diocletian's Palace etc, all were done by tyrans / dictators, despots but are masterpieces.
The problem is that Ceausescu was dictator in a world filled with democracies. The size might be impressive but the architecture is kitschy and unimaginative.
The problem is that Ceausescu was dictator in a world filled with democracies. The size might be impressive but the architecture is kitschy and unimaginative.
What exactly is kitschly for you? I have an university diploma in arts and I've read a lot about art, aesthetics and so on. Kitsch is when is some cheap imitation of something, a shape without message. There is not the case here.
The Cathedral of Cologne. It's incredibly impressive in person! It's the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
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