monument

Filia - Ferencz-Boda

HML CODE
CV-II-a-A-13215
COUNTY
ADDRESS
84, sat FILIA; comuna BRĂDUŢ, Covasna
SETTLEMENT
Filia
Erdőfüle (HU)
FAMILIES
ARCHITECT
CRAFTSMEN
CURRENT USE
no current use
ACCESSIBLE
CONTACT
TEAM
2009: Macaveiu Sânziana, Rădulescu Ruxandra, Verenic Sorina
2012: Stoica Alexandra

The Ferencz-Boda mansion is one of the most picturesque Székely noble assemblies, definitory for the lifestyle of a specific gentry and how they harmoniously combine two different manners of living activities which invariably lead their existence: the military and peasant imposed by the need of assurance and maintenance of the privileged state. By analyzing this unique ensemble we discover a different architectural framework of the Székely mansions and of the functioning within this constant duality.

 
The household, small in dimensions, is in the central part of the actual village. Unlike the houses in the village that are straight aligned on the street, the curia is withdrew from the front, being accessible from a road easement. Thus, the initial situation was different. On the First Austrian Military Mapping Survey (cca 1775) one can see the original structure of the village, right after its integration among Austrian border regiments. Curia is an island located in the center of the hearth, having an advantage over the rest of the village that of being surrounded by the ample space as an expression of prestige and privileged position. Understandable in the context of the eighteenth century, we notice the gate and the house position in axel offering a good view perspective into the curia.
 
Curia is indicated by a grand brick gate with massive pillars of two wings showing full center arches corresponding to the two separate entrances: the people’s entrance, respectively the carriageway. A subsequent intervention on the parament is listed on the gable above the entry of people dated 1964.
 
The most impressive building of the assembly is the noble’s house, located in the gate’s axel and being the heart around which runs the whole activity of the household. It impresses with its harmonious proportion and the human scale of massing, reminiscent of the clear language, modest but not shabby, of the country constructions. This impression is reinforced by the simple but fine decoration of the facade, the tenderness of the floral grounds and the decorations made of molded plaster which gives it a special charm.
 
According to the inscription on the stone framing the right upper chamber the building was constructed in 1713. Beside the date there stands the monogram BS designating the initials of Boda Sandor limited partner, descendant of one of the small local noble families, became royal judge in the Three Seats. The actual appearance of the curia is most likely due to the 1826 intervention following the canons of Transylvanian Baroque, when the roof is changed and it is built the frontispiece. 
 
Nevertheless, these changes or extensions are specific to the noble residences and represent a consequence of a need faced at the time by the noble family, a need of either increasing the wealth and show its representation or adapt the old buildings to new standards of living. It is marvelous how the new generations relate to the family inheritance in Széklerland preferring to intervene and remodel the existing construction instead of building a new home. 
 
The functional division is made in relation to the levels of the building. Functional rooms and the kitchen are on the ground floor so, the first level is full floor living. In both areas the division is tripartite, a recurrent Székely typology, with a central entrance hall lounge accessible through a narrow hallway that connects to the central room but also to the side rooms, for the masters of the house, the noble and the lady. The rooms’ ceilings are fully made out of thick wooden boards kept apparent and slats at the joint. Upstairs gaps are of equal size and keep carpentry and wooden shutters with oberlich (a separate opening on the superior part of the carpentry).
 
Constructed in accordance with the style of the time, the porch is located on the main façade,  mainly characterized as a separate volume with coverage in two streams. It is individualized by an opening with arches and robust pillars with splayed edges, acting as a lookout on the perimeter area existing on the level floor. The entrances into the building are at the ground level. On the northern side it is made the connection with the upstairs level, the entrance being marked by the traditional wooden stairs and also, by an arch in full center (semicircular) that elegantly takes over the profilatura of the median belt. On the main façade of the porch there is the door to the basement, type of entrance present at the most Székler curiae as a countryside solution to the connection with the underground spaces.
 
The windows are framed by a border made of plaster, shaped with double frame and a middle treated by pressing sequentially with plaster.  The beam from under windows is also decorated with a profile supported by a series of plaster shaped triangles.
 
The decoration is of classic inspiration; the colossal pilasters of Baroque type (on the full height of the façade) give a monumental character to the building. The corners of the house and the joint with the porch are emphasized by a double row of pillars. At the top the pilasters are finished by Doric capitals separated by the molded cornice with a series of narrow niches with an arched top closure. The plan of the flat spine is decorated in a floral motif made of molded plaster similar the Székler countryside motifs.
 
 The horizontal profiled girdle that splits in two registers the masonry of the façade betrays a much more careful treatment of the facades facing the street and the courtyard with porch, revealing more common sense than a desire of fast.
 
In addition to housing, in the courtyard there is preserved the stone annex,  all done in the interwar  period,  showing the same countryside influence, fact proved by the inscription made in the tondos applied above the left entry: BJ ES BR 1927.
 
However, the building is in an advanced state of decay. The upstairs floor joists are affected by moisture and a possible biological attack making the access in the rooms difficult. The street façade masonry shows cracks that require rapid maintenance works.
 
arch. Alexandra Stoica

Image gallery

Exterior

Interior

Annexes

Maps

Bibliography

BÍRÓ,  JÓZSEF, Erdélyi kastélyok (Castele din Transilvania), Budapesta: Új Idők Irodalmi Intézete (Singer és Wolfner) kiadása, 1943.

 
BALÁZS,  NAGY, Ţinutul conacelor Trei Scaune, Sfântu Gheorghe: Háromszék Vármegye Kiadó , 2011.
 
NAGY ISTÁN, Magyarország családai Czimerekkel és Nemzékrendi Táblákkal (Blazoanele şi genealogia familiilor nobiliare), Budapesta, 1857.
 
NAGY MARGIT, Reneszánsz és barokk Erdélyben (Renaştere şi baroc în Transilvania), București: Editura Kriterion, 1970.
 
MURADIN, KATALIN, Identificarea şi clasarea elementelor de arhitectură tradiţională din judeţul Covasna,  Teză de doctorat Institutul de Arhitectură „Ion Mincu”, Bucureşti, 1983.
 
Muzeul Naţional Secuiesc
 
www.hereditatum.ro
 
www.hlavathy.ro

 

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