Virginia Andreescu Haret

Virginia Andreescu Haret (1894–1962) was a Romanian architect and is credited as the first woman to graduate with a degree in architecture in Romania. She is also the first woman to reach the rank of Romanian Architectural Inspector General.

Biography Maria Virginia Andreescu was born on 21 June 1894 in Bucharest, Romania, and was the niece of the painter Ion Andreescu. Her mother died when she was nine years old and Andreescu took charge at that point for raising her three younger siblings. In 1912, she graduated from high school at the Mihai Viteazul High School. She enrolled in the Superior School of Architecture and was the first woman to graduate with a degree in architecture in 1919, having earned the highest distinction award "very good". Simultaneously with her studies for a degree in architecture, Andreescu was attending the Academy of Fine Arts, studying under Ipolit Strâmbu. In 1920, Strâmbu organized a showing of 66 of Andreescu's works including drawings, sketches, and watercolors. They were well received and Historical Monuments Commission bought 28 of them for permanent display.

Her most prolific period of building occurred between the World Wars. She built many projects including the Gheorghe Șincai High School (1924-1928), a wing of the Cantemir Vodă National College (1926-1929), Her style varies encompassing all of the Romanian architectural styles from classical to modern which were present in the early 20th century. Her own home was built in the Art Deco style, for which she seemed to have a personal preference. After having built some 40 buildings, she received the designation as Romanian Architectural Inspector General, the first woman to have served in this capacity. She represented her country at many conferences and Congresses, including the International Architecture Congresses, in Brussels, Moscow, Paris, and Rome, and she received many awards for her designs. In addition to building, she wrote a history of architecture with Nicolae Ghica-Budești in four volumes, complete with watercolors.

Haret died on 6 May 1962 in Bucharest.

Works

1923, Nicu Stănescu Villa, #43 Strada Paris 1923, Dionisie Germani Villa, #45 Strada Paris 1923-1927, Palace for the Tinerimea Română Society, #19 Strada Johann Guttenberg 1924-1928, Gheorghe Șincai High School 1924-1928 Apartment, #50-56 Strada Frumoasă 1924, Gongopol Building, #40 Strada Icoanei 192?, I. Catuniari Villa, #30 Strada Washington 1925, Papiniu Villas, #54 and #56 Strada Roma 1925, Dimitrie Cantemir High School, #117 Bulevardul Dacia 1926, P. Leibovici Villa, #5 Intrarea Spătarului 1926, Spiru Haret-Gold Villa, #8 Intrarea Spătarului 1926, Locuințe Ieftine Company Building, #1 Bulevardul Hristo Botev 1926-1929, wing of Cantemir Vodă National College 1927, Ziarul Universul Villa, #5 Strada Madrid 1927-1934, Biserica Sfânta Treime Ghencea Church, jointly with Jean Pompilian 1927, Anthropology Research Center for the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, #8 Bulevardul Eroli Sanitari 1928-1929, Govora Casino 1928, Col. Cezar Goliel Villa, #16 Strada Dr. Mihail Obedenaru 1928, Ianculescu (Rosetti) Villa, #1-3 Strada Povernei 1928, Wine Warehouse and living quarters for Banca Viticolă, #17-21 Strada Petru Rareș 1928, Augustin Opran Villa, #15 Strada Alexandru Philippide 1929, Dr. Nicolae Gheorghe Lupu Villa, #41 Bulevardul Dacia 1929, Seven Villas for the clerks of the Casa de Depuneri și Consemanațiuni, #2-10 Strada Theodor Burada 1930, Steinberg Villa, #31 Strada Dr. Joseph Lister 1930, Georgescu Villa, #41 Strada Dr. Louis Pasteur 1930, Prof. Popsecu and Iosif Gavrea Villa, #6 & 6a Strada Mihail Obedenaru 1931, Virginia and Spiru Haret Villa, #14 Bulevardul Lascăr Catargiu 1932, Radu and Elena Perianu Villa, #18 Bulevardul Eroilor 1933, Viorica and Gheorghe Rujinski Vila, #22 Strada Berzei 1935, Nistor Villa, #17 Strada Dr. Anibal Theohari 1935, Iurașcu Villa, #24 Strada Emanoil Porumbaru 1935, Panait Mazilu Villa, #76 Strada Popa Savu 1936, Constantinescu Villa #11 Intrarea Bitolia 1937, Dumitru Stoica Villa, #27 Strada Veronica Micle 1942, Constanța and Ioan G. Haret Villa, #7 Strada Jean Texier