About the book About the book
About the book
Testimonials About the book
Sinaia boasts with beauty and we were long time expecting the appearance of such a book to confirm its uniqueness. A book which can unveil its history, its characters, its mysteries. A book which makes this city easier to “read”. I thank architect Dan Manea for his courage to start with this initiative. I also thank him for his commitment and perseverance in concluding the initiative. The result is spectacular. Sinaia needed such an Author. Sinaia will always need people to love the city. People with the guts to leave just a little of “better” after they are gone.
Vlad Oprea,
Sinaia Mayor
Sinaia was one of those paradises any country brags with. (…) It is an homage paid to a human settlement that also hosted extraordinary historical events. This is a book that prompts you to go to Sinaia not only for entertainment or for enjoying the sceneries it offers, but also to start a pilgrimage in an especially important historical place.
Constantin Bălăceanu-Stolnici, honorary member of the Romanian Academy, member of the Science People Academy in Romania and member of the Medical Sciences Acadademy in Romania.
Sinaia-Oraşul Elitelor About the book
150 years of history seen through an architect’s eyes
“Sinaia, Land of the Elites”, an ambassador-book for national values
Beginning with September this year, Sinaia, the city that includes most architectural monuments per capita in Romania, will have its own “ambassador”! An ambassador irremediably in love with this city! Written with the soul, the book called “Sinaia – Oraşul Elitelor” tells the extraordinary story of the settlement that gradually became Romania’s summer capital, one of the favourite destinations of the elites, a location where the famous Orient Express stopped, a meeting place between European royal families and host of many Continental amplitude events. Architect Dan Nicolae Manea, the author of the book, free of mannerly and easily carries his readers into space and time forays that will irremediably change their image on Sinaia, Romania, traditions, culture and personalities that marked their evolution.
The book surprises by the novel perspective an architect vision offers upon his hometown. The author brings memorable events in the last 150 years to surface and impresses the reader with the amount of published information and pictures, many of them for the first time, as well as with the passion and generosity he shares the perpetual values that put Sinaia on Europe’s most important cities map with the reader. Mai mult
About the author About the book, Press
MOTTO
“Nobody got in the “Ion Mincu” Institute for Architecture only because he or she wasn’t admitted somewhere else” – Architect Cezar Lăzărescu
A graduate of the “Ion Mincu” Institute for Architecture and of the Design department of the Popular Arts School in Bucharest, architect Dan-Nicolae Manea is one of the best known and most valued architects within the Prahova Valley area.
His name is connected to several educational and safeguarding initiatives regarding architectural monuments, which include: the “Give one penny for Caraiman” campaign, for restoring the Heroes Monument on Caraiman Peak, the “Restitutions” program regarding the restoration of urban furniture elements from King Carol I era (the stone benches in Sinaia, Buşteni and Azuga, the fountain near Sinaia Monastery, the stone cross on Molomot), the restoration of Ion Florescu chapel and the accommodation of Alina Ştirbei park.
EXPERTISE
More than 30 years of continuous practice as board architect generally specialised in mountainous architecture, but mostly in residential programs.
VALUES
Loyalty toward the customer, the contributors and the community.
With all he accomplishes, Dan-Nicolae Manea aims to promote the highest ethical and professional standards by a behaviour which simultaneously shows modesty and reputation.
HONORARY TITLES and AWARDS
Second prize at the International Contemporary Architecture for small rural sites contest, 1998
First prize at Prahova 2013 architecture Biennale, dwellings section, and nomination for interior accommodations section
First prize at BRAMAC 2009 architectural competition (new buildings and restorations).
MEMBERSHIP
Founding member of the Architects Order in Romania
Architects Union in Romania
Member of Urbanists Register in Romania and Architects Union in Romania
Member of Photo Artists Association in Romania
President of Rotary Club Prahova Valley between 2015 and 2016
President of the Reviva Foundation and the Architects’ House Association
ACHIEVEMENTS
Initiator of the “Salvati Sinaia” monitoring and information campaign; he wrote more than 100 weekly stories in the local media. With a relaxed style, breathing passion for preserving national values, Dan-Nicolae Manea constantly invited his readers to join him in space and time forays that changed forever the latter perspective upon the role played by Sinaia inside the European space.
REFFERENCE WORKS
ANDA Sinaia Hotel
SCHIORI Sinaia Lodge
Foişorul cu Flori Sinaia Pension
Iris Sinaia house
Bucegi and Bastion complexes in Sinaia reconversion
Internaţional Sinaia Multifunctional Conference Centre
The BCR offices in Predeal
More than 50 villas and holiday residences in Sinaia, Busteni and Predeal
Almost naturally, given his vast experience gathered as an architect concerned about the community he lives within and his passion for Sinaia and the natural beauty surrounding it, architect Dan-Nicolae Manea gathers a new title: the author of the book called “Sinaia-Oraşul Elitelor”
PERSONAL BELIEF
“Since childhood I never wanted anything else but to become an ARCHITECT, although sometimes I get the feeling I might practice any job in very good terms.”