Löffler Palace

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Löffler Palace
Palatul Löffler
Timișoara - Palatul Löffler (29887607987).jpg
The Löffler Palace in 2018, with bullet holes from the Romanian Revolution still visible on the triangular pediment facing the Opera House
Map
General information
Architectural styleSecession
LocationVictory Square, Timișoara
Coordinates45°45′11″N 21°13′33″E / 45.75306°N 21.22583°E / 45.75306; 21.22583Coordinates: 45°45′11″N 21°13′33″E / 45.75306°N 21.22583°E / 45.75306; 21.22583
Construction started1912
Completed1913
Design and construction
Architect(s)Leopold Löffler

The Löffler Palace (Romanian: Palatul Löffler) is a historic building in Timișoara, Romania, on the Surogat side of the Victory Square.[1] It was built between 1912–1913 by the family and company of the entrepreneur Jacob Löffler, as a company headquarters and home for him and his three sons.[2]

History

The Löffler Palace is the first building on Surogat, between the Opera House and Huniade Castle. It belongs to the szecesszió current, and the architect of the building was Leopold Löffler, one of the three sons of the family of grain merchants once living in the palace.[3] Together with father Jacob, they decided to buy a plot of land cleared after the demolition of Timișoara Fortress and parceled for sale. When purchasing the building plot, Löffler was subject to conditions from the city administration, so the construction time had to be less than a year, and the architectural design, especially the facades, had to be approved by the chief architect of the city, László Székely [hu].[4] In addition, the rear of the building had to be structurally separated from the Huniade Castle behind it and further developed. Here the building was richly decorated, including with two groups of statues.[2] The statues were probably made by the sculptor Géza Rubletzky [hu].[4]

The palace was designed with three staircases, one for each of Jacob Löffler's sons, and had three floors, 46 apartments and 142 rooms.[5] The apartments were also intended for rent and became, in a short time, very sought after, given the excellent position of the building. The palace has three entrances, because each of Löffler's sons wanted to have a separate entrance to the palace.[3] A cafe was opened on the ground floor and, in a short time, numerous commercial or production spaces were rented.[5] In 1948 the building was nationalized, and Löffler's last son died in a ruined attic on the middle staircase, where he had been banished by the new communist power.[5]

Over the years, the palace hosted various institutions, as well as numerous shops on the ground floor. The Hermes Exchange Bank, the Mortgage Credit Bank, the General Directorate of Railways, the branch of the French Institute of Higher Studies in Romania and the Bulevard café, on the ground floor, operated here alternately.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Löffler Palace.
  1. ^ Barbu, Dinu (2013). Mic atlas al județului Timiș (caleidoscop) (PDF). Timișoara: Artpress. p. 28. ISBN 978-973-108-553-1.
  2. ^ a b "Palatul Löffler, Timișoara". Welcome to Romania.
  3. ^ a b Matei, Alina (15 May 2015). "Palatul Löffler". Merg.În.
  4. ^ a b Iszlai, Erika (22 July 2021). "Descoperă povestea Palatului Löffler: unul dintre cele mai frumoase din Timișoara și de pe Surogat". TION.
  5. ^ a b c Păun, Liana (13 April 2014). "Piața Victoriei (II). Cum și-a lăsat Székely László, arhitectul-șef al orașului acum 100 de ani, amprenta asupra centrului Timișoarei". pressalert.ro.
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