Hmmm, I like the clarity in the original and very much enjoy the subject, but I question the editing. Maybe I am just distracted by the beauty of the architecture and want to see it in better detail? It is well done if you are going for a feeling of reminiscence.

Yes, I was aiming for that feeling actually. And besides, the original was pretty "tourist" mode with all the people walking around. It was crowded.

I was trying to salvage it with a "retro" look somehow, since I like the subject a lot myself, and I came across this presentation that I found quite pleasing.

Thanks a lot for the kind words and take care.

Its interesting
the blurred edges give it a kind of ethereal feel

My personal take on this is that if you want good architectural pictures of popular public buildings buy a postcard, unless you can be there at the right time with few tourists and with enough equipment to take that sort of picture. I like what you have done here, you have moved it from a picture of a building to something a little more, to more of a photograph with an artistic interpretation. The darkening and blurring concentrates the eye to the centre and the building without being so distracted by the people in the foreground.