Project for the People’s Salvation Cathedral Bucharest
Variant proposed by architect Gh. Bratiloveanu

As a specialist in architecture (I have designed more than 20 churches both in Transylvania and Moldavia) I have answered to the invitation of his Sanctity the Priest Patriarch Teoctist to take part in the People’s Salvation Cathedral design competition.

Such a creative approach could have been attained by at least two different ways:

- under the inspiration of the contemporary architecture, thus neglecting the connections with the Romanian traditional architecture

- by achieving a quintessence of the Romanian architectural experiences in an unitary and representative weaving of the specific elements from the national territory.

The second variant was chosen, taking into consideration that this important edifice of the nation has to reflect the Romanian space and spirituality, to be a symbol of the millenary constructive effort of our people. Under the auspices of this building, the most valuable elements of the traditional styles from all our country areas are combined, a sum of the creative ability of the Romanian masters in constructions.

The difficulty consisted in harmonizing all these elements so that the cathedral does not seem to be artificial or counterfeited; so that looker, wherever his provenience, should discover familiar elements of his own region.

The harmonization in a Romanian styles’ synthesis is present both in the volumetric and detail solutions and in the organization of the cathedral’s interior; the sacred space achieves the unification by means of the contemporary architecture constructive system.

The decorative elements scattered on the whole of the building are representative and well known in the Romanian religious architecture; most are inspired by wall constructions whose monumentality is unanimously acknowledged.

The proposed solution is new and unique in Romania. This project is under the protection of the State Office for the Inventions and Brands no.f.2003 1205, and is published in the Official Bulletin for the Industrial Property, no.2/2004.

Being the biggest cathedral of the Romanian spirituality, we have chosen a harmonious, unitary and fluent architectural plan, to integrate in the intended area.

Once completed, the project has been registrated at the Saint Patriarchate at no. 4466/29 October 2003, 605/6 February 2004, in order to be analysed at the Ideas Contest that will be organized to this purpose.

The general ensemble has a dense composition, with 6 towers ascending towards the central, dominant steeple.

From the main entrance the heights rise gradually, pyramidally, the maximum value being attained in the pantocrator steeple, which imminently draws the visitor’s attention.

The dimensions of the proposed building render it impressive. The build-up area covers over 1800 square m, it is long 87,60m, wide 52,00m and tall 95,60m in the cross pointer on the central steeple. It can house about 5500 persons.

The cathedral’s base is an octagon one whose diagonals are marked by semicircular apses inside and polygonal apses outside.

The main entrance is west orientated by an open verandah, which turns around the belfry with two sides on the exterior lateral parts.

On the transversal north-south axis we have designed additional entrances marked up with buffer spaces.

Also, in the altar area, we have designed two minor entrances with stairs that allow to go upstairs and to descend in the basement.

Architect Gh.Bratiloveanu

Suceava - Romania, 28 Cireşilor Street

Phone: (004)0230-520979

mail: catedralaneamului@yahoo.com

CG and web design by eng. Mihai Viţega

mail: viz_fx@yahoo.com