Staircases
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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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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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Interesting Facade in the 6th District of Budapest
I find the facade at 12 Jókai Street in Budapest’s 6th district particularly intriguing. This building, completed in 1912, was designed by architects Izsó Nagy and Gyula Benedict for Szilárd Cziner, a wealthy landowner. A few years ago, the removal of a grocery store’s signs revealed an old inscription: “Fűszer – Közért – Csemege.” This…
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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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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…
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Nádor utca 36: The House of the Rimamurány-Salgótarján Steelworks
Nádor utca 36 is a building located nearby the Parliament. It was designed by Artúr Meinig and built in 1901 for the Rimamurányi-Salgótarjáni Vasmű Rt. (Rimamurány-Salgótarján Steelworks), a huge company responsible for steel production in northern Hungary. The company, often nicknamed “Rima” had its headquarters in this building and rented out the rest. The name…
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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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Székely Mihály utca 12: Second-Hand Stores and Stabbing in Terézváros
This old house is located at Székely Mihály utca 12. Prior to the war, this narrow street, then known as Kazár utca in Terézváros, the 6th district of Budapest, was bustling with second-hand stores selling clothing once owned by affluent individuals. Many of these shops were owned by Jews, with synagogues of Erzsébetváros nearby and…
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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…
Buildings Tell Tales 