Architecture
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Budapest: The Glass-Courtyard Building
The house at Paulay Ede utca 25-27, known as “Üveg-Udvar” or “Glass Courtyard,” was built in 1890 by glass manufacturer Adolf Schwarz. The building housed glass manufacturing workshops on the ground floor, while the upper floors were used for apartments.
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József körút 62: Hogwarts vibes in Budapest
Budapest’s 62 József utca conceals a stunning courtyard reminiscent of Hogwarts. It was esigned by renowned architect Samu Petz in 1894.
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Andrássy út 2: the Foncière-palace
At the corner of Andrássy út and Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út stands the “Foncière-palota.” Adolf Feszty, a prominent architect in 19th century Budapest, designed the building in 1882 for the French Foncière Insurance company. Feszty, known for his contributions to the city’s architectural landscape, also designed the Haris-bazár (since demolished) and several mansions along the then-developing Sugár…
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Dohány utca 22: The Árkád Bazár
I took these photos at Dohány utca 22, an Art Nouveau building known as the “Árkád Bazár,” once home to the Késmárky and Illés toy store. In prewar Budapest, children dreamed of shopping here, as the first floors housed the city’s largest toy store, while apartments occupied the top floors. Designed by brothers László and…
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Lenhossék utca 5: Alcohol and Pocket Knife
This decaying apartment building is located at Lenhossék utca (formerly Szvetenay utca) 5, in an area that has long grappled with poverty and its associated issues, including criminality and drug addiction, rendering it still considered unsafe. However, this area is undergoing significant changes, with many old buildings being demolished and replaced by large condominiums. During…
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Csengery utca 15: The Guild of Barbers and Hairdressers in Budapest
The house located at Csengery utca 15 is a rather average-looking building from the second half of the 19th century. On Sunday, the door was open, so I sneaked in and discovered an interesting memorial plaque on the lobby wall. According to the plaque, this building was purchased in 1907 by the guild of Barbers…
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Csengery utca 80: A Decaying Treasure in Terézváros
Csengery utca 80, an old apartment building dating back to 1890 and designed by Sándor Sterk, is one of those timeless structures that evoke a bygone era. Interestingly, I stumbled upon an old information sheet hanging on the wall, featuring pre-1990 street names such as Lenin körút (Lenin Boulevard, now Teréz and Erzsébet Boulevards), Majakovszkij…
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Balázs Béla utca 27/b : A Vanishing Old House in Budapest’s 9th District
Back in January 2022, I posted on my Facebook page about an old building located at Balázs Béla utca 27./b in Budapest’s 9th district. At the time, I was curious about the fate of this apartment house, given the recent demolition of many old buildings in this deprived area of Budapest. In June of the…
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József utca 3: The House of the Hungarian Association for Disabled and Retired Workers
József utca 3 is an apartment house located in the 8th district, originally built for the Hungarian Association for Disabled and Retired Workers, established in Budapest in 1893. This building, inaugurated in 1905, was constructed for the “Hungarian Association for Disabled and Retired Workers” (Magyarországi Munkások Rokkant és Nyugdíj Egylete), according to the plans of…
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Tölgyfa utca 10 : A hidden Art Deco treasure in Budapest’s 2nd district
Tölgyfa utca, a small street nestled in Budapest’s 2nd district, harbors a hidden treasure for Art Deco aficionados: the Budapest Institute for Pneumonia Treatment. This architectural gem was designed by Loránd Almási Balogh and completed in 1931. Almási Balogh also left his mark by designing numerous buildings in the Óbuda Gasworks Housing Estate. The structural…
Buildings Tell Tales 