Abandoned Hallway in Decay with Cat
by Roman Robroek
Title
Abandoned Hallway in Decay with Cat
Artist
Roman Robroek
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
One of the buildings I looked most forward to, and is the main reason I’ve visited Băile Herculane, is Băile Neptun (or Neptune Baths or Austrian Imperial Baths). Băile Neptun has been built at the end of the 19th century (between 1883 and 1886). Architect Alpar Ignat designed the plans for the building. Băile Neptun has former sulfur and thermal baths with 32 individual cabins and 2 large pools built of red marble. The pools were getting their water from the Neptune I and Neptune IV springs. On the first floor used to be a gym. It is a huge building with a lot of rooms. However, one of the rooms stands out. The reception hall has amazing colors, details and a ceramic fountain in the middle of the room. Luckily enough, this is still quite well preserved (considering the circumstances).
In the resort, Roman origins are present throughout the building. For example, plaques dedicated to Hercules, Aesculap and Hygeia (protective gods of this place) can be found.
Unfortunately, at the end of the 20th century the building fell into decay. Authorities have been doing nothing to preserve or save the historic building. The only thing that might save this place is a group of young architects from the ‘Herculane Project‘. Thus far, the legal situation is causing a lot of delay and in the meantime a large part of the roof of the buildings collapsed. This means that the weather will have an even greater impact on the process of decay on the building.
Uploaded
August 29th, 2019
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