The Japanese art has always attracted me and a few years ago I learned of two Ukiyo-e artists (Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai) that each did some amazing visual art entitled “36 Views of Mount Fuji”. Ever since I saw both artists’ work I wanted to do my own “36 Views of” and this year I got to finish that project, bearing the name contained in the title.
A bit of info about the Casino: built in 1909-1910 under the plans of Daniel Renard, a French-born architect, it is a triumph of the Art Nouveau movement and quickly became the symbol of the city. Apart from its original purpose, the Casino was briefly used as a hospital during World War II and eventually repurposed by the communist regime as a restaurant.
Worsening circumstances in Romania over the 20th century saw it gradually fall into disrepair. Maintaining the elaborate structure quickly became prohibitively expensive, and the building was closed. Despite occasional efforts at restoration, it has remained abandoned ever since. The Romanian Ministry of Culture has added the Casino on the List of Historical Monuments and, While the building is nominally owned by the municipality and technically closed to the public, central and local authorities have never shown much interest in revamping the building.
To date, there are plans to restore the building to its intended purpose but the socio-political in Romania as well as the differences between the local and central authorities in this regard have not settled up to the point of beginning the revamping process.
For time-related reasons I could not personally take all the photographs needed for the project, so I have decided to enlist some friends/acquaintances and we have compiled this here photo album.
Photocredits go out to the following:
– Adrian Siea (founder/photographer @ Constanta City Walking Guide – fb.com/ConstantaCityGuide)
– Alex Carbune (photographer – fb.com/alexcarbune)
– Lisandra Lungu (photographer – fb.com/lisandra.lungu)
– Mihaela Iordan (photographer – fb.com/mihaela.iordan.9)
– joienegru (blogger/photographer – fb.com/joienegru)
– Radu Lupu (photographer – fb.com/radulupu79)
– Claboo Media (photography-related services – fb.com/claboomedia)
– Ovidiu Oprea (photographer – fb.com/ovidiu.oprea.50)
– Cristian Buzoianu (photographer – fb.com/buzoianucristiantudor)
#1
Own work: view from the top of the artillery bunker buried beneath the northwestern corner of the promenade.
#2
Own work: view from the 47 metres high minaret of the Grand Mosque (now known as Carol I mosque).
#3
Own work: view from the northeastern corner.
#4
Own work: view from one of the resting kiosks located on the upper side of the promenade, after the revamping process.
#5
Alex Carbune: view from the southwestern corner of the promenade, on a frozen winter’s day.
#6
Lisandra Lungu: view from the northwestern corner of the promenade.
#7
Lisandra Lungu: partial view from near the entrance, revealing architecture details.
#8
Mihaela Iordan: view from the southwestern part of the promenade, on a winter day.
#9
Mihaela Iordan: diagonal view from near the entrance.
#10
joienegru: view from the southeastern corner of the promenade on a winter’s day.
#11
Adrian Siea: view from the northwestern corner of the promenade.
#12
Adrian Siea: out-of-focus view from the southeastern corner of the promenade on a snowy day.
#13
Adrian Siea: view from the north-western part of the promenade.
#14
Adrian Siea: view from the northwestern upper part of the promenade.
#15
Adrian Siea: view from the dyke near the 1st Gate of the Constanta Harbour.
#16
Adrian Siea: view from the dyke near the 1st Gate of the Constanta Harbour, during Romanian Navy’s Day (St. Mary’s Day, 15th August) celebrations.
#17
Own work: contre-jour partial view from the northwestern corner of the building.
#18
Own work: view from the southeastern corner of the promenade.
#19
Own work: street-level view from the northwestern corner of the promenade.
#20
Radu Lupu: view from the northwestern corner of the promenade, post-revamping process.
#21
Radu Lupu: view from under a resting kiosk on the upper side of the revamped promenade.
#22
Radu Lupu: diagonal view from near the northwestern corner of the building.
#23
Claboo Media: aerial view from the southeastern part of the promenade.
#24
Claboo Media: aerial view from the eastern parn of the promenade, showcasing the near-by area.
#25
Ovidiu Oprea: zoomed view from the embankment opposite the building.
#26
Ovidiu Oprea: sunrise view from the upper part of the promenade.
#27
Ovidiu Oprea: view from the embankment opposite the building.
#28
Ovidiu Oprea: view from near the northwestern corner of the building.
#29
Ovidiu Oprea: view from the embankment opposite the building.
#30
Radu Lupu: view from the embankment opposite the building.
#31
Claboo Media: view from above the central part of the promenade.
#32
Claboo Media: aerial view from the southeastern corner of the building.
#33
Claboo Media: aerial view from the southwestern corner of the building.
#34
Claboo Media: aerial side-view from the east.
#35
Cristian Buzoianu: view from the northeastern corner of the building.
#36
Adrian Siea: view from the embankment opposite the building.
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