The rescue of Iasi city landscape, homage to G. M. Cantacuzino

Abstract

Great architect and a type of Renaissance personality "Homo Universalis", G. M. Cantacuzino placed his mark on Iaşi mainly through his writings full of a special love for this city. Apparently a city that had nothing to impresses travelers, Iasi city managed however to reveal to G. M. Cantacuzino his subtle charm. Shortly before his death, worried about the gloomy post-war future which was expected for Iasi urban environment, the architect pleaded for the salvation of the city landscape in his conferences in 1955 and 1958, titled "Iasi City, a landscape". His alarm signal related to what could be saved from the historical built ensemble of old Iasi was ignored at that time. Shortly after these conferences, in the old Iasi started the destruction and the urban renovation, as happened with many of the historic cities of Romania.