
Villa Assan in Chairs Street


"Cassa B. C. Assan", designed by the architect Marcel Kammerer from Vienna - as recorded on its western facade - was, according to the project dated 19061, to stand in the middle of an elaborate landscaping, as shown in the site plan, which also attests to the fact that the building had a postal address in Bucharest. Alongside the rows of box trees, alternating on the northern boundary of the plot with daffodils planted in cherub trees, the garden design included a group of shrubs, intended to give privacy to a space furnished with a table and eight chairs, and an enclosure of willow trees, designed to provide the necessary shade for the benches surrounding the playground. Another corner was set aside for a fountain, flanked by other benches and preceded by a pergola, which was sheltered by tall trees from the prying eyes of neighbors, and the utility courtyard. The latter, which was only delineated in the 1906 project, was to contain at least one garage, which was designed by Marcel Kammerer a year later2, and was to be included in the same building as a hen-house and two staff rooms on the first floor, next to the ironing room, which was probably used for, among other things, the driver's uniforms. In addition, the Assan family's own residence had seven other staff rooms in the basement, on either side of the central heating and fuel (wood and coal) storage rooms, for which a direct supply from outside was provided in the basement. Also on the same level were the pantries, the laundry, an ironing room and a naturally ventilated toilet. The link between the basement and the high ground floor was provided by the service staircase, which allowed the architect to provide a separate access for the staff on the latter level, so that the presence of the main entrance would not be affected, even accidentally. Situated on the west side, it consisted of a vast vestibule measuring almost 44 square meters, into which the main staircase was to be led via three ramps.
Read the full text in Arhitectura 6/2012.
1. AN-DMB, PMB Tehnic fund, file 177/1906, Construction of the house of B. G. Assan's house at 21 and 23 Scaune str., files 1-36. The plans and building permit were identified by historian Simina Stan.
2. AN-DMB, fund PMB Tehnic, file 177/1906, Construction of the house of B. G. Assan's house at 21 and 23 Scaune Street, files 10-13.












