Travel
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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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Városligeti Fasor 8/b: An Architectural Gem from the Early 1940s in Budapest
Let’s head to Városligeti fasor 8/b, a street between Budapest’s 6th district and 7th district (this building is located in Terézváros, the 6th district). This address takes us to a beautiful lobby inside an elegant apartment building, constructed between 1941 and 1942. The building was designed by Tibor Szivessy, a Hungarian architect who often included…
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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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Frankel Leó út 11: Where Neo-Renaissance meets Art Nouveau
Frankel út 11 is an apartment house with two distinct facades: one facing Frankel Leó út (where the entrance is situated) and the other facing Lipthay utca. The two sides of this narrow building are quite different. The facade on Lipthay utca is an interesting blend of neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau elements. Designed by the…
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Kosciuszko Tádé utca 6: From Istanbul to Budapest – the Captivating Story of the Camhi Family
When I was a student, I spent a year and a half living in a flat in Budapest’s 1st district. During that time, I often strolled down Kosciuszko Tádé utca, a street honoring the famous Polish military leader Tadeusz Kościuszko. Each time, I couldn’t resist pausing to admire the striking Art Deco facade, marked by…
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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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The Service Stairs of Teréz Körút 9, Budapest
Teréz körút 9, an old apartment building constructed in 1887, is believed to have been designed by Sebestyén Messner and Rezső Arndt for Emil Lyka. One intriguing story from my research on the house’s history revolves around a burglar named Károly Ferencz. In October 1930, he targeted an office within Teréz körút 9. Surprisingly, on…
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Kossuth Lajos utca 4 : The Dreher-Palace
A few years ago, I used to enjoy drinking beer in summer before gradually switching to ‘fröccs’, a mix of soda water and white wine. Among the mass-produced Hungarian beers, my favorite was Dreher, especially their dark beer called ‘Bak’ But why am I writing about my taste for beer? Because this beautiful building known…
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Hölgy utca 16 : Secret Art Nouveau Gem of Budapest
Kőbánya, Budapest’s 10th district, is often overlooked by tourists. However, this industrial area boasts some hidden treasures that make a visit worthwhile. Explore the exquisite Saint Ladislaus Church, an architectural masterpiece by Ödön Lechner, an intriguing Art Deco Evangelical church, or the vibrant Chinese district offering authentic cuisine. Additionally, Kőbánya reveals stunning Art Nouveau buildings,…
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Aradi utca 57 : the Art Nouveau “Platschek-House”
The “Platschek-House” is an Art Nouveau residential building located at Aradi utca 57 in the 6th district of Budapest. It was designed by the Löffler brothers, Béla and Sándor, and built in 1908 for Vilmos Platschek, the wealthy owner of a garment factory employing 250 people, with a store on Károly körút where the clothing…
Buildings Tell Tales 