HOUSE OF FREE PRESS

A MASSIVE BUILDING DEDICATED TO THE FREE ROMANIAN PRESS IN

BUCHAREST

House of the Free Press in Bucharest has been the highest building in the Romanian capital for more than 50 years, since 1956 to 2007. It follows the axis of the Arch of Triumph.

BEFORE SCANTEIA HOUSE AS IT WAS CALLED THE HOUSE OF FREE PRESS

Works started in 1950 on the old racecourse complex built by King Carol I in 1905. The architect Horia Maicu wanted to resemble Lomonosov University and Leningrad Hotel in Moscow here, in Bucharest. The building, nowadays House of Free Press was called Scanteia House, Scanteia being the name of the Communist Party official newspaper.

KING CAROL I BECOMES LENIN

The image of the House of Free Press became symbol of the city on the reverse of 100 lei banknote from 1952 to 1966. The foundation has an area of 280 / 260 m and it is 91.6 m high without the antenna that can be seen on the main building part, the central one. In 1960 the communists leaders took the bronze from the statue of King Carol I and made a giant statue of Vladimir Lenin. They placed this statue in front of the House of Free Press. It was removed in 1990, following the anti-communist revolution in 1989. The pedestal made of red marble is still there.

MASSIVE ARCHITECTURE

There are four architectural elements to be found all over the building. In fact, there were the socialist aims: science and knowledge for the people, gigantic industrial factories, the socialist star and the symbol of the Communist Party, the sickle and the hammer.

HOUSE OF FREE PRESS IS PART OF BUCHAREST CITY TOUR

For the first time in Bucharest the possibility of a great earthquake was taken into account following Italian rules. So, it was important not the shape of the building but the possible magnitude. Which means the building is safe from this point of view. The central building is surrounded by 4 smaller structures. They housed a printing office, reception halls, a library and many offices for the main newspaper, Scanteia. Now, it is the headquarters of many newspapers. How it was built? Well, the House of the Free Press was built by the entire people. The communists persuaded, which means forced everybody to give money. Officially it was a free subscription.

The House of the Free Press in Bucharest was built following the Russian architectural style, yet borrowing elements from the Romanian religious monuments, like Moldavian churches and monasteries. It is a Bucharest highlight, near VILLAGE MUSEUM due to its massive structure. It can also be seen from the Arch of Triumph top.
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