Three Decades of History and Democracy at Cotroceni Palace
The collection brings together a wide spectrum of decorations, from the first medals minted during the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, to the national system outlined under Carol I and developed by the following sovereigns – Carol II and Michael I – to the distinctions established during the communist period and those created after 1989. Military and civil orders, medals, commemorative distinctions, and protocol objects received by heads of state are presented, reflecting both the evolution of national symbols and the political and ideological changes of each era.
The display systems, composed of simple geometric modules and treated in a monochromatic palette, serve as a counterpoint to the decorative richness of the Brâncovenesc-style halls. Their structural independence, uniform colouration, and controlled lighting create a neutral framework for viewing the exhibited objects, without competing with the architectural details. This contemporary furniture highlights both the displayed artefacts and the historical context in which they are situated.
The strongly contrasting background, in the distinctive shade of blue associated with the Presidential Administration, provides visual unity to the ensemble — from finely detailed medals to larger-scale decorative art pieces.
The information is organised into thematic zones and sub-themes, displayed on panels designed for easy access. To support the understanding of context, the exhibition incorporates auxiliary elements such as magnifiers, supplementary labels, and detailed panels, offering visitors a secondary level of interpretation without overloading the main exhibition path.
The overall design of the exhibition is conceived to extract the objects from the ornamental density of the halls and to create clear perspectives for observation. The suspended display cases, featuring generous cut-outs, ensure both the protection of the exhibits and the visual continuity with the historical setting.
DESIGN TEAM:
Constantin Goagea, Ana Constantinescu, Lisa Dres
CONTRIBUTORS:
ORGANIZERS
The Presidential Administration
The National Museum of Cotroceni
General Manager: Ana-Maria Ludatșer
Scientific General Manager: Dr. Ștefania Dinu
Deputy General Manager (Marketing): Andra-Cătălina Achim
Project Coordinator: Corina Moșescu
Historical Research
Ioana Drăgului – IA museographer
The National Museum of Cotroceni Team
Camelia Rădulescu, Ioana Lidia Ilea, Paula Sofica, Elena Tufan, Corina Burghelea, Nicoleta Ceaușu, Ilie Dobroiu, Nicolae Crișu, Costică Voicu, Ion Ciobanu, Marian Anastasiu, Augustin Mirea, Cristian Chirea
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Policromic
Artemisa Pascu
Andrei Grosu
PRODUCTION
Kaustik
PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrei Lumpan