Bucharest's Cyclop Garage: Interwar Romania's First Multi-Story Parking Structure

Bucharest's "Little Paris" era, a time of cosmopolitan flair and intense cultural life, witnessed the 1930 inauguration of the Cyclop garage. This structure was not just Romania's first multi-story parking facility but also one of Europe's most modern.

Located on Boulevard Magheru, the Cyclop garage was built on land leased from Dumitru Marinescu Bragadiru, a prominent interwar businessman. The building, initially planned with a basement and four floors, utilized reinforced concrete, a cutting-edge technology at the time. By 1940, two more floors were added, expanding the built area to over 16,100 square meters. Its facade, nearly 100 meters long, dominated one of the capital's most elegant boulevards.

The Cyclop was more than just a parking facility. Its ground floor housed shops and auto workshops, while upper levels were dedicated to vehicle storage, exhibition spaces, and later, offices. A cafe was also included, and major car manufacturers established showrooms within its walls. The building's design centered around a glass-covered atrium, with parking spaces and access ramps arranged around it. Pedestrians had access to two elevators and stairs, and lower levels contained maintenance and repair workshops.