Moldova / Balș House - Spaces for the "George Enescu" University of Arts "George Enescu" in Iași

Project elaboration stages

1998-1992Project manager: arh. Cristian Constantinescu eng. Constantin Firtea

1992-1994Project manager: eng. Constantin Firtea arh. Gabriela Dănăiță Ionescu

2001-2003Project manager: arh. Gabriela Dănăiță Ionescu arh. Daniela Mitru

2008 - presentProject leader: arch. Daniel Vișan Collaborators: arh. Florentina Bălăucă arh. Mihaela Popiniuc Acoustics: prof. dr. eng. Alexandru Vereș Structure: prof. dr. eng. Ionel Gosav

The building that belonged to the treasurer Alecu Balș was erected around 1815, in the neoclassical style characteristic of the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. Later, the building housed the French Sacré Coeur Institute of the nuns of the Order of Notre Dame de Sion, already existing in Iasi at the beginning of the 19th century. Between 1900-1910, an addition was built in the extension of the old Balș House, at 29 Cuza Voda Street.

The ensemble on Cuza Voda Street comprises: Alecu Balș House, the Moldova Philharmonic and a building for music education.

In 1817, the first Romanian-language play was performed in the salon on the first floor of the Balș House, and on January 18, 1847, a concert was given by the great pianist and composer Franz Liszt.

After a long period of time in which the building had various functions, consolidation and refunctionalization projects were carried out partially, with interruptions for long periods of time. Currently, following the completion of the last stage of rehabilitation, the Alecu Balș House houses the George Enescu University of Arts and the Moldova Philharmonic.

The main facade, facing the park between the National Theatre and the Metropolitan Cathedral, has a small square, for the time being, in which the statue of Miron Costin is placed. The main access, in the high ground floor, is through the portico, which also ensures the flow of pedestrian traffic along Cuza Voda Street.

On the ground floor there are the reception and distribution spaces to the administrative areas of the Moldova Philharmonic, to the large hall of the Philharmonic in the adjacent building and the main staircase to the next level, where the Rectorate of the "George Enescu" University of Arts is located.

On the first floor is the 144-seat hall originally intended for the study and rehearsal of the university orchestra. It is now also used for concerts and theater performances. The second floor and the 'attic' in the high attic contain study rooms as well as a large orchestra area.

The large hallways on the first two floors are used for exhibitions by students of the Faculty of Fine Arts.