Courtyards
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Kossuth Lajos utca 4 : The Dreher-Palace
A few years ago, I used to enjoy drinking beer in summer before gradually switching to ‘fröccs’, a mix of soda water and white wine. Among the mass-produced Hungarian beers, my favorite was Dreher, especially their dark beer called ‘Bak’ But why am I writing about my taste for beer? Because this beautiful building known…
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Aradi utca 57 : the Art Nouveau “Platschek-House”
The “Platschek-House” is an Art Nouveau residential building located at Aradi utca 57 in the 6th district of Budapest. It was designed by the Löffler brothers, Béla and Sándor, and built in 1908 for Vilmos Platschek, the wealthy owner of a garment factory employing 250 people, with a store on Károly körút where the clothing…
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Bem rakpart 54-55 and Károly Haggenmacher : From Swiss Roots to Budapest’s Heart
This apartment house located at Bem rakpart 54-55, in the 2nd district of Budapest, boasts a rich history dating back to 1899. Designed by the renowned architect Sándor Hauszmann for András Holtzspach, the building later became the property of Károly Haggenmacher, a key figure in Budapest’s development. Károly was the brother of Henrik Haggenmacher and…
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Pálya utca 15 : Traces of War from 1945
The old walls of Pálya utca 15 in Budapest’s 1st district hold memories of intense battles in 1945, with a huge number of bullet holes. I visited this site multiple times and took the photos I’m sharing with you just yesterday. Luckily, I found articles detailing the historical events linked to this house. It’s essential…
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Orlay utca 2b : István Medgyaszay’s Masterwork in a small street of Buda
In January 2024, we held with our association an exhibition at Kelet Café, showcasing photos of buildings captured by Benjamin Makovecz in the late 70s and early 80s, alongside their current views. My favorite was a shot taken inside Orlay utca 2/b, a building constructed in 1909-1910 and designed by István Medgyaszay. Despite many attempts,…
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The Budapest of the early 1980s through the lens of Benjamin Makovecz
A few years ago, I used to wake up early to explore Budapest’s flea markets, searching for vintage photos. I donated most of my discoveries to Fortepan, a copyright-free and community-based photo archive. One day, amidst my treasure hunt at Bakancsos flea market, I stumbled upon a collection of captivating black and white prints showcasing…
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Budapest : Tales from the Danube Riverside
This beautiful apartment house facing the Danube is located on Belgrád rakpart. The inhabitants have placed tables and chairs in its spacious staircase, and if I were to live here, I would definitely drink my morning coffee in this charming space! This house was designed by two architects, Ambrus Orth and Emil Somló; it was…
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The Beautiful Courtyard of Havas utca 2
I love the courtyard of a late 19th-century apartment house located at Havas utca 2 in the 5th district of Budapest. The architect is unknown, and the house was completed in 1896. In 1960, a floor was added to the house, which is why the 5th floor looks different from the others. This house is…
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Door Knockers Will Remain Silent: Üteg utca’s Vanished Building
On a rainy day in April 2021, while en route to get my Covid-19 vaccine at Honvéd Hospital, I noticed the door of Üteg utca was open. Intrigued, I entered to capture a few photos. Despite not frequenting this area often, with its hidden gems like Kartács utca 13, I returned only in 2023. To…
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Nagy Lajos Király útja 104 : the ‘Sing Sing’ house in the 14th district of Budapest
Some locals have given the name ‘Sing Sing’ to this apartment building situated at Nagy Lajos Király útja 104, drawing a parallel with the infamous prison in the United States. Sadly, this nickname depicts the atmosphere of this house quite accurately! The majority of its apartments remain vacant, with the entrance walled off to prevent…
Buildings Tell Tales 