The current headquarters of the Mures County Council, also known as the former Town Hall building, make up, together with the Culture Palace, a spectacular secessionist ensemble built in Tîrgu-Mureș at the beginning of the 20th century during the mayorship of Bernády György . The building was erected between 1907 and 1908 under the supervision of architects Komor Marcel and Jakob Dezsö . They were the founders of a specific Art Nouveau trend in Transylvania, the particularities of which distinguish it even from the secessionist school of Budapest. The edifice is grand, marked by the contrast between the massive body of the building, developed horizontally, and the svelte, protruding tower on its left corner. The plan is U-shaped and has four levels. Two versions exist regarding the source of inspiration for the campanile. On one hand, this architectural element was linked to the bell-towers of Transylvanian wooden churches, which were in turn inspired by the towers of Gothic churches. Given that the purpose of the building was to serve as headquarters for local administrative bodies, it is no surprise that the general aspect was compared to that of medieval communal palaces, having a similar structure, including a campanile with a clock. As opposed to the austere exterior specific to Transylvanian secessionism, the interior is a synthesis of decorative styles, which makes it particularly picturesque.  The entrance area, including the corridor and the staircase leading to the first floor, is the most representative in this regard. The ribbed stellar vaults that cover this area were inspired by Gothic architecture. The use of such vaults can only be explained by purely esthetic reasons, as there is no practical argument for this choice at the beginning of the 20th century. The vaults are supported by columns with composite caps, and the keystone is a large floral shape which includes the lighting appliance. The vaults are painted with spiraling vegetal motifs. One of the most spectacular elements of the front hall is the stone bench with its legs shaped as those of an animal and with wing-shaped handles. Its shell-shaped, golden back has a shield flanked by two volutes on its upper side. The monumental staircase leading to the first floor also boasts some impressive elements such as  the upper side of the banister resembling a slithering animal or a wave. The exterior decoration is simpler and is based on local folk motives made of polychromatic ceramics. The ground floor is marked by a solid, embossed pedestal. The empty and full areas on the façade are rather well balanced, even though the windows with large openings tend to be predominant. The three semicircular windows in the middle area of the facade are those of the honor hall that has a double elevation with respect to the other rooms. The cornice underneath the roof is criss-crossed, thus making the façade more dynamic. The roof is made up of colored diamond-shaped tiles resembling a peasant rug. One of the most frequent decorative elements is the short and thick column. The banister of the balcony on the top floor of the campanile consists of such columns in groups of three. The main entrance is preceded by a porch with semicircular openings.

Bibliography:  

Paul Constantin, Arta 1900 în România, București, Ed. Meridiane, 1972, pp. 54, 57, 104.

Keresztes Gyula, Marosvásárhely szecessziós épületei, Marosvásárhely , Difprescar, 2000, p. 60.