Classical Architecture
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The Forgotten Jazz Singer : Tibor Weygand’s Budapest Residence
This charming apartment house, constructed in 1931-32 by architect Tibor Hübner, is situated on Tas Vezér utca in the 11th district of Budapest. Our visit to this building was prompted by its association with Tibor Weygand, who resided here after World War II. While his name may not be widely recognized today, even in Hungary,…
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The Historical Elevator of Semmelweis utca 4
On an evening in December 2023, I rushed after work to a gallery located at Semmelweis utca 4 to attend the opening of an exhibition featuring Benjamin Makovecz’s photos taken in Budapest in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Since the gate of the house was open, I could not resist taking a look inside…
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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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Visegrádi utca 4: Unveiling Beauty Behind the Unappealing Facade
Nestled in the Újlipótváros neighborhood of Budapest’s 13th district, Visegrádi utca 4 may not catch your eye right away. Back in 1958, a newspaper bluntly called it one of the “ugliest and most neglected buildings in Budapest.” They complained about its bad conditions and the damages suffered 13 years earlier, predicting a gloomy future for…
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A Decaying Architectural Gem in the 14th District of Budapest
I used to live in Zugló, the 14th district of Budapest, for a few years, and this villa has always fascinated me. It is one of the oldest houses in the district and is located on Erzsébet királyné útja 27/a. According to a local journal published in 2020, the villa was built in 1850 for…
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A “Romantic Castle” in the 14th District of Budapest
Is this a photo of a romantic little castle somewhere in Ireland? Not at all; this is a villa standing on Zichy Géza utca in Zugló, the 14th district of Budapest. However, it indeed has a direct link with Ireland: it was built for a famous portrait painter, Fülöp László, who wanted to impress the…
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Semmelweis utca 2: A Glimpse into Győző Czigler’s Architectural Gem
The apartment house of the Hungarian Royal University Fund (Magyar Királyi Tudományegyetemi Alap bérháza), located at Semmelweis utca 2, stands as a testament to the architectural brilliance of Győző Czigler. Completed in 1895, this edifice is one of many iconic creations by Czigler, a prolific architect whose life, though brief (born in Arad in 1850,…
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Nagymező utca 18 : The House of the Duna Insurance Company
Upon entering Nagymező utca 18, an apartment house located at the corner of Nagymező utca and Andrássy Avenue in the 6th district of Budapest, you will notice a large iron “D” that reflects the building’s history. The ironwork of this building preserves the memory of the Duna Insurance Company, which had its headquarters here. The…
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Inside the former Hotel Tiger : a 19th-Century Gem in Budapest
These photos capture the interior of the former Tigris Szálló (Hotel Tiger) located at Nádor utca 5, in the 5th district of Budapest. Designed by József Hild, one of the most recognized Hungarian architects of the 19th century, the Hotel Tiger was inaugurated in 1840. Regarded as one of the most elegant hotels, it hosted…
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József Attila utca 18 : The House Where Thousands of Portrait Where Taken
This building was constructed for Antal Mocsonyi in 1910 based on the plans of Károly Rainer. Interestingly, Antal Mocsonyi decided to launch an architectural design contest in 1907 to select the architect in charge of designing his apartment house. This marked the first instance in Budapest where this method was employed to choose the architect…
Buildings Tell Tales 