CEC Palace, Bank palace on Calea Victoriei, Bucharest, Romania
CEC Palace is a bank building on Calea Victoriei in Bucharest designed in the Beaux-Arts style with a balanced, symmetrical facade. The structure features five domes, a central glass cupola, composite columns, and a semicircular pediment that shape its distinctive appearance.
Construction started in 1897 under King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth of Romania, with French architect Paul Gottereau directing the design. The project was part of efforts to establish Bucharest as a modern European capital.
The building displays Romania's financial ambitions through its grand Beaux-Arts design and ornate entry hall. The decorated interior spaces reflect the importance this institution held when it first opened.
The building still functions as a bank headquarters and remains open during standard business hours for visitors. You can observe the spaces with their original decorations and furnishings in active use.
The central hall features a metal and glass dome that lights up the banking counters and spreads illumination across the space in an elegant way. This design reflects French influence on banking architecture and was an innovative approach for its era.
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