Staircases
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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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Fő utca 4 : A Residential House built for the former “Buda Commercial and Industrial Bank”
The foyer of Fő utca 4 maintains its beauty despite the evident signs of decay. Erected in 1872, this neorenaissance structure was originally built for the “Buda Commercial and Industrial Bank” (Budai Kereskedelmi és Iparbank) and designed by Imre Steindl, the same architect behind the Hungarian Parliament Building. In my photograph, if you shift your…
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Hajós utca 31: From Coffee Aromas to Tragic Falls
Situated near the Opera, Hajós utca 31 is an apartment house built in 1905, its architect remaining unknown. In the early 1910s, the pleasant aroma of coffee likely filled the building, emanating from a coffee shop owned by István Ambrus. On January 6, 1910, the National Israelite Patronage Association (Országos Izraelita Patronage Egyesület) was established,…
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Attila út 87: Count Domonkos Teleki’s home in Budapest
This building was designed by architect Károly Möller and constructed in 1929 for Count Domokos Teleki. Situated on Attila út in Budapest’s 1st district, it holds historical significance. The Teleki family, belonging to the highest aristocracy in Transylvania and Hungary, had their main residence in the castle of Gernyeszeg (now Gorneşti in Romania). Unfortunately, the…
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Bécsikapu tér 8 : Eszterházy-house
Back in March-April 2022, I had the chance to explore the majority of residential buildings on Castle Hill in Budapest. One of my favorites is the “Eszterházy-ház,” situated on Bécsikapu tér. Constructed in the 18th century, this building has undergone several modifications over the years. Much like many structures in the Castle District, it suffered…
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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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Budafoki út 20
Budafoki út 20 is a building, constructed in the early 1910s. Unfortunately, the architect is unknown. The Lechner Knowledge Center – Lechner Tudásközpont – has conducted intriguing research on the history of this building, and I have written the following based on a text I found on their website: In the later years of his…
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The Abandoned Sanatorium of Benczúr Utca
This deteriorating building, located at Benczúr utca 4 in the 6th district of Budapest, was designed by Géza Markus, known for creating the Art Nouveau “Cifrapalota” in Kecskemét and the Schöpf-Merei hospital (which is also currently abandoned) in the 9th district of Budapest. Despite being the work of a famous architect, there is very little…
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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 Rebirth of an Art Nouveau Gem in Budapest
On the afternoon of February 21, 2024, I visited Munkácsy Mihály utca 23 to capture some photos of the beautiful entrance of this Art Nouveau house. As soon as I set up my tripod and camera, a very kind man approached and invited me to take a look inside the house. It’s a building I’ve…
Buildings Tell Tales 