No downgrade for Hala Matache BUT....

NEWS FLASH!!! Latest news from Matache - Ultima Ora

(translated by me so excuse any screw-ups)

Breaking News: Hala Matache remains on the map! Ministry of Culture supports the cause!

February 14, 2011 2:05 · ·

Evenimentul Zilei announces in an article published moments ago online that

Representatives of the Ministry of Culture have said that the downgrading of the monument will not be approved.
Whatever plans the City Hall may have, Hala Matache will remain on the list of historical monuments. The Special Committee for the Department of Culture, Religious Affairs and National Heritage of Bucharest has not yet taken a formal decision on Hala Matache, but the spokesman of the Ministry of Culture, Radu Enache, says experts will not advise downgrading Hala Manache. "So far, the committee has given no notice for a downgrading and never will," said Enache.

This was the news in last night just as I was off to bed. But a night and a morning have passed since then, and the cold light of day sheds another announcement. It appears that despite Hala Matache keeping its position on the list of historical monuments, it is going to become a glass supermarket. Its death warrant has been signed despite the protection that should come from its position on the register. Another 'sticla' to add to the collection in the name of progress and modernisation. In a year, it will be unrecognisable. The current meat market will be demolished and its facade rebuilt to become the main entrance. The stalls will be enclosed in glass partitions and the new structure will have a single level for fruit, vegetables and other foods. The agro-food sector will be moved back 30 ft from its present location as it's in Mayor Oprescu's way and will be carried out when officials have decided who will manage the new market...

Well, that's all very nice I'm sure, but where's the preservation part? Not downgrading the building seems to have counted for nothing at all, and I was warned of this last night as I joyously shared the latest news of the moment. I have been reading lots of comments lately about how progress is necessary to drag Bucharest into the 21st century. Yes, fine, of course progress is necessary. But the 21st century does not have to be gained by hacking the 19th and 20th centuries to death, does it? Hala Matache is the oldest indoor market in Bucharest. It has gone to the dogs because it has been neglected, but it is a very nice building architecturally and should be saved on that very point alone. It is in an area that has become, and I'm quoting others, 'dangerous', 'beggar's paradise'...well, who's fault's that? Because there is no sense of civic duty neither from the majority of residents in the area, nor from its government, much less City Hall, is this a valid reason for demolishing patrimony? It is not. It is a legally criminal act of patrimonial manslaughter. Nothing more and nothing less. All those who say it's an ugly building and has no architectural interest, well, go read some books and then go look a little harder. I am so sick of stupid, ignorant statements such as that one. If you don't wash for six months, don't clean your teeth and don't change your clothes I bet you wouldn't have any friends either. This is once again a man-made problem born from irresponsibility, laziness and typical 'merge si asa' which City Hall solves with destruction. The dogs are a problem: kill them. The building is a problem: demolish it. How about the government is a problem: get rid of it???

Crangasi food mall (left: source) and Obor market (right: source) were renovated at great cost whilst hospitals are working on skeleton staff and patients buy their own medicines and bandages as there are none available - Crangasi at 10 million euros lead to quite expensive produce. All in the name of progress. Have you seen these structures? Eyesores. No architectural elegance whatsoever and as much atmosphere as a cardboard box. Wouldn't it have been better renovating the original markets with the input and advice from experienced, talented architects - there are many in Bucharest, but they have been sat on by those who want a quick build with zero creativity, the cheapest materials and both pockets full of euros.

The price of progress and urban modernity is NOT at the loss of history, beauty and heritage. The life of a city is NOT the text of Vaclav's 'Dr Faustus' but it seems that Bucharest has lost its soul to the devil via disrespect, indifference and destruction...

Comments

[Raul]

People (more the ones with communist believe) destroy history and rewrite it like they like it to be. It happend and it takes place right nou. It is important for them to build symbols of new times, forgeting the past. That happens also with historical buldings. They are destroyed together with all the stories that happend inside, all the memories of people that left a part of theis life inside. People don't matter, glory matters, symbols matter (see Palatul Poporului). This happens since communism came to Romania and here is the proof: nothing changed. They will continue acting like allways and Romania will stay like allways in the same misery. The "change" for Halla Matache ist a symbol for the reality in Romania today. We will never learn for the future, destroying and reinterpreting the past.

[sairj]

okay! Thank you, Horia :o)

[horia]

Dear Sarah, just use the search form, please, on piatamatache.info - it's there.
(form with green "cauta aici!" or similar, upper right corner.

[sairj]

Horia, please could you send me the speech of Serban Sturdza? I would like to translate it and make it a part of the above post if it is giving courage or if it is a goodbye...either way, he stood and he spoke which is something, I guess. He should be doing it however, with a megaphone aiming at Le Hague, I rather feel. I'd certainly like to see it though. Thank you for all your comments and encouragement, Horia :o)

[horia]

dear Sarah, great, your article is very good and calling to conscience!
regarding alternative strategies, you can read (also in romanian) the "10 miths about the new boulevard", here: http://piatamatache.info/?p=343

@Marina & Nicole: yes, you are right, the architects are not enough involved. The reasons for that, are... they are romanians too! Why would you think that architects would be different from, let's say doctors in romania? I am one too, but working for the Matache Hall. There are severeal ones, working in Asociatia pentru Tranzitie Urbana. Young people. Also, the cheif of the Union of Architects, Serban Sturdza, wrote a wonderful statement for us, read it at Piatamatache.info too. It's older, look in the old postings!