Maria Militza Sion
Architectural Drawings, 1986-1999

Ms2000-007
.1 cu. ft.

BIOGRAPHY

Maria Militza Sion studied at Ion Mineu Institute of Architecture (1955-1961) and began her professional career there also (1961-1966). She then moved and joined Project Bucuresti Design Institute (1974-1978). For almost ten years, from 1978 to 1986 Sion was involved in the modernization and redevelopment of the center of Miercurea Ciue City in Transilvanya. She designed apartment buildings, a hotel, and a large shopping area.

In 1990 most of the state design organization in Romania closed down. Sion decided in 1992 to open a private office in partnership with her younger colleague Marina Neagu Sadoveanu (b. 1946). Their first large project was the Holiday Inn Resort in Sinaia for which Sion won a competition in 1990. They have also designed private houses in Sion and Bucharest, as well as office buildings and apartments.

The office of Maria Militza Sion also built several orphanages. At this time, orphans and abandoned children are a big social problem in Romania. Some old orphanages still function in dilapidated buildings. In comparison, the orphanage in Calarasi, Romania designed and built (1997-1998) by Sion's office was a new program in providing separate rooms for groups of 8 children, between 2 and 6 years old. They also built another orphanage in Turnu Severin.

Maria Militza Sion is also an artist. She received the 1976 annual award for graphic art and the 1981 special award of the Jury for Graphic Art.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Maria Militza Sion Architectural Drawings consists of a resume and and a curriculum vitae. The collection also includes photographs, color photocopie of the completed Holiday Inn at Sinaia (1990-99), as well as a photocopy of the plan and elevation of the building. Photocopies of the floor plan and photographs of the completed Calarisi Children's Home are also included (1997-98). In addition to the completed works the collection contains three study sketches for Miercurea Cine from 1986.

PROVENANCE

The material in the collection was donated in summer 1999 by Maria Militza Sion by way of Milka Bliznakov to the International Archive of Women in Architecture housed in the Special Collections Department of the University Libraries of Virginia Tech.

NOTE TO RESEARCHERS

Most of the material is in the Romanian language.

INVENTORY

Folder 1: 1986-99--Drawings and photographs of the Holiday Inn and the Calarisi Children's Home, 3 sketches for Miercurea Cine, biographical information

Processed by: Susan Conway, July 2001
Biographical information translated by Milka Bliznakov

Send questions or comments to:
IAWA Archivist, University Libraries
Virginia Tech, P.O. Box 90001,
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001