Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, is a rising destination for travelers who want to visit a vibrant European city with a fantastic local food scene, access to breathtaking countryside excursions, and centuries of historic architecture.

Tapping into that history is The Marmorosch Bucharest, an Autograph Collection Hotel. This hotel was crafted inside the Marmorosch-Blank Bank Palace, a stately building in the heart of old town Bucharest that was originally constructed in 1912. Previously critical to the modernization of the Romanian economy, the bank building is now a protected national monument — with intricate woodwork, stained glass, and marble tiling throughout.

To keep the heritage of the Marmorosch intact, architect Indre Sangus had to untangle a labyrinth of design challenges. From encasing carved wood panels in glass so they could function as shower walls, to preserving marble by hiding above-ground plumbing inside furniture, she came up with solution after solution to preserve over a century of history at the heart of Bucharest.

In this conversation, Hamish and Indre clarify why it’s important to protect and restore this kind of heritage architecture and design, what it takes to restore over a century of craft for the public to see and touch once again…  and what it was like to repurpose a two-story bank vault, deposit boxes and all, into an otherworldly speakeasy bar.

• 02:18 — Why do old banks make for wonderful hotels?
• 05:17 — Why is it so important to preserve the heritage features of this building?
• 06:50 — How did Indre solve problems like turning hundred-year-old, wood-paneled rooms into fully functional hotel bathrooms?
• 12:25 — What was it like to turn a bank vault into a speakeasy bar? 

Featured Hotel: The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection

Featured Designer: Indre Sangus, YES.design.architecture

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