Art
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From Ceramics to Mathematics: The Story of Vámház körút 5
Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to revisit Vámház körút 5 several times. This beautiful 19th-century apartment house, located in Ferencváros, the 9th district of Budapest, welcomes its visitors with the Latin word “SALVE” which can be read on the floor before entering the staircase. Behind a recently renovated facade, you…
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The Art Nouveau Butterflies of Thököly út 46
The “Szenes-ház” a house located at Thököly út 46 was commissioned by Mór Szenes, a chief controller for an insurance company, and his wife Regina Stern and built in 1904-1905. Mór Szenes owned multiple houses in Budapest, including Népszínház utca 40, which was designed by József Porgesz. I recently posted about this building’s very interesting…
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Benczúr utca 48: Hugó Pick’s Beautiful Villa
In 1906, newspapers announced that a grand villa was to be built for Hugó Pick. Born in the village of Mokrin (now in Serbia), Pick made a fortune selling aniline dyes known for their vibrant colors. He commissioned Alajos Messinger (later known as Medgyes) to design the house, which was completed in 1908. Today, the…
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Szondi utca 64: One of the Greenest Courtyards I have seen in Budapest
This courtyard, one of the greenest I’ve seen in Budapest, is hidden at Szondi utca 64, in the 6th district. The property manager (társasházkezelő) of this house changed a few years ago, leading to many improvements, including this amazing courtyard that you wouldn’t expect hidden behind a crumbling old facade. This house was designed by…
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Dob utca 53: Hidden Art Nouveau Facade in the 7th District of Budapest
This Art Nouveau house is tucked away on Dob utca, a street in the 7th district of Budapest. Constructed between 1904 and 1905, it is the first apartment building designed by István Nagy Jr., the architect who also designed the “Szenes-ház” at Thököly út 46. It was built for Mór Schwartz, a wealthy textile merchant,…
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Kazinczy utca 5: The House of the Bell-Makers
This apartment building, located at Kazinczy utca 5 in the 7th district of Budapest, was designed by Antal Klenovits and completed in 1895. It was originally constructed for Anna Mária, Ferenc, Jakab Antal, and Klára Walser. Ferenc Walser owned a bell foundry located on the opposite side of the street, at Kazinczy utca 6/a. Ferenc…
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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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Sanctuary and Diplomacy: The Building of the Spanish Embassy in Budapest
A wealthy mansion in Budapest, once home to the Hatvany Deutsch family, became the Spanish Embassy in 1922. During WWII, it provided refuge for persecuted Jews, with the Ambassador aiding in saving over 5,200 lives.
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Király Utca 70: Murder in the Architect’s Apartment
Yesterday, while conducting research in old newspapers about Király utca 70, I came across an article published in the Friss Ujság in 1928 titled “Horrific Robbery Murder on Király Street.” This crime occurred in the apartment of Pál Varsa, an architect who designed a house on Práter utca, a topic I previously posted about on…
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Király utca 21: One of Budapest’s Most Elegant Staircases
Nestled within Király utca 21 stands one of Budapest’s most elegant staircases, housed within the oldest surviving building on the street. Crafted by Mihály Pollack for Ferenc Dlauchy, a prosperous locksmith and frequent collaborator of the architect, this architectural masterpiece has weathered the test of time. However, the same cannot be said for many neighboring…
Buildings Tell Tales 