Terézváros
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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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Andrássy út 2: the Foncière-palace
At the corner of Andrássy út and Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út stands the “Foncière-palota.” Adolf Feszty, a prominent architect in 19th century Budapest, designed the building in 1882 for the French Foncière Insurance company. Feszty, known for his contributions to the city’s architectural landscape, also designed the Haris-bazár (since demolished) and several mansions along the then-developing Sugár…
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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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Hajós utca 41: “Tlach und Keil” & “Finger és Fia”
Those of you who regularly read my website or Facebook posts have probably noticed that most of the photos I share depict decaying buildings. This is because I find beauty in the passage of time, particularly evident in the worn facades and crumbling walls that tell stories of bygone eras. Moreover, I believe it’s essential…
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Szondi utca 75 : Decaying Art Nouveau Architecture in Terézváros
Situated just a stone’s throw away from the renowned Sonnenberg-ház at Munkácsy Mihály utca 23, Szondi utca 75 stands as another remarkable testament to Art Nouveau architecture in Budapest, both buildings were designed by the same architect, Albert Kálmán Kőrössy. Built in 1906, this building was once home to Vilmos Nagybaczoni Nagy, a high-ranking officer…
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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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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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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…
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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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Lipót Baumhorn’s Forgotten Gem: Visit Szív utca 66
When I entered the building located at Szív utca 66, I was immediately struck by both its beauty and its deplorable state. After researching its past, I was surprised to discover that these crumbling walls, covered with graffiti, were originally designed by Lipót Baumhorn, the most influential Hungarian synagogue architect of the 20th century. Baumhorn…
Buildings Tell Tales 