Budapest Architect: Architects around 1930 - Overview

Topics: Introduction * Architects

Architects: Geza Agoston * Aladár Árkay * Bertalán Árkay * Borbiró Bierbauer * Lajos Breuer * Zsigmond Erdi * Ferenc Falus * Lajos Falus * Ernö Fogacs  * István Gerö  * Herman Ginczler * Jenö Gót * Hugó Gregersen * Antal Gyárfás * Denis Gyorgyi *  István Hámor * Károly Hirsch * István Hoch * Gyula Horvath * Gyula Jakobik * Sándor Károly * Laszlö Keliertas * K. Robert Kertész *  Marcell Komor * Zoltán Kósa * Béla Kovacs * Ferencz Kovatsek * Lajos Kozma * Miklos Lajta * Imre Latschek * Aurél Liclii * Aurél Ligeti * Martonosi Barathl * István Medgyaszay * Károly Móller * János Müller * Aladár Münnich * Jenö Nagel *  Lajos Nagy * Ferenc Opper * Imre Pagányi * Miksa Politzer * Ervin Quittner * Béla Rerrich * Ernö Román * Miklós Román * György Rumszauer * Károly Sándor * Gyula Sándy * János Schulek * Loránd Sebestyén * József Steiner * Aladár Szanto * Imre Szöke * Röth Tauszig * Pál Vadja * József Vago * Sándor Valke * Imre Vámos * Jenö Vogel * Sándor Weisz * Andor Wellisch * Laszlo Wimmer * László Zsádo    (additions will follow)

Introduction

A mega job that gradually shall get shape in 2012/2013. This mega job concerns creating a thorough written overview on Internet via the website Budapest Architects of the architects in Budapest whom  in the late 20s, 30s and 40s buildings in (mainly) Bauhaus / New Objectivity style have designed. Mainly, because at the end of the 20s but also in the 30s numerous buildings were designed in other styles. Such a overview does not exist, while in this period hundreds of buildings in Budapest are realized based on designs of dozens of architects.

For example, the architect Herman Ginczler ...  Till now Julius has knowledge of at least 35 buildings designed by him in both New Objectivity style as partly reverting to neo-style wall decorations. Biographical data and so on, are, even in Wikipedia, not to be found. Use Google and search at the name Ginczler. Approx. 150 hits is the limit and the most of them are not about the architect Herman. And, it is one of many architects of the 30s from whom information lacks. During his walks in Budapest, which still be continued, Julius took till now at least 40 different pictures of signatures which numerous architects put on a building after designing these buildings and undoubtly, numerous will follow.

What can you expect in 2012/2013: The list of names as listed above, will be extended with new names of the architects who were active in the 30s. Gradually a page shall be added to each name. On these pages a brief description of the career, biographical information, pictures of buildings designed by the architect, personal impressions of Julius and last but not least an overview of designed buildings which still are existing. The base for these pages are the walks made by Julius in Budapest, together with research. The names of the architects about whom already a page exist, are a fraction larger than the other names.

Architects

Bertalan Árkay (1901-1971)

Bertalan joined in the footsteps of both his father Aladár as his grandfather and became one of the most sought after architects in the '30s for the design of villas in Bauhaus / New Objectivity style. By him is also one of the first and still remaining villas in Bauhaus style in 1927 designed. At the oposite of the street you can find a late Art Nouveau building designed by his father. Both Father and son designed a beautiful Cubist  / New Objectivity style based church. This project was finished by Bertalen after the dead of his father in 1932.

Herman Ginczler (1899-?)

The live of the architect of Jewish origin Herman Ginczler is a big mystery. In terms of biographical information is about this architect, exept the year of birth, nothing to find.

He designed between 1929 and approx. 1935 at least 35 mostly prominent buildings in several (former) Jewish districts in Budapest. His style is usually a mix between classic and modern architecture. Beside, there is the suspicion that a number of buildings were designed by him, but misses the signature of the person who was responsible for the building of the houses.

Hugó Gregersen (1889-1975)

The of Norwegian origin family Gregersen emigrated to Budapest in the second half of the nineteenth century. Hugó designed many buildings in Budapest in New Objectivity style while his wife Alice Lux usually was responsible for sculptures or reliëfs on the facade.

Many of his buildings are distinguished by the use of reinforced concrete with naturestone decorations against the wall.

Dénes Györgyi (1901-1971)

A very special architect who started his career with the design of late Art Nouveau buildings with Transylvanian influences and afterwards his designs evolved via Art Deco to Bauhaus / New Objectivity.

His friend, colleague and teacher Károly Kós described him as the main architect between the two World Wars. But that's a bit too much honour...

István Medgyaszay (1877-1952)

Solid, usually pretty boring uniform apartment blocks. That is the legacy bequeathed at Budapest by István Medgyaszay.

Pioneer of building with reinforced concrete and the use of prefabricated parts. Something that was difficult to combine with the then current methods of facade decoration. Nevertheless, some buildings especially deserving attention due to the sgraffito art on the facades made by artists like Ferenc Márton.



 

Ernő Román (1883-1959)

Ernő realized together with his brother Miklós in the Art Nouveau period numerous buildings, the height of these buildings (5 to 6 floors) is often characteristic for their buildings. But after the collaboration with his brother was ended, Ernő, either alone or with fellow architects, designed buildings in the New Objectivity style with sometimes Art Deco influences. Buildings which are very special!
 

Miklós Román (1877-1952)

Miklós Román period as an architect in the 30s is not the most special of his career. Unlike his brother Ernö, Miklós was not innovative and designed in the 30s rather colorless buildings, which not standing out among the other buildings from this period in Budapest.

Gyula Sándy (1868-1953)

The Lutheran Gyula Sandy was mainly in the 30s responsible for the design of many Lutheran churches in Budapest. No Bauhaus or New Objectivity, but more churches whose design goes back in the (Hungarian) history.

His most famous and well-known building is not a church, but the striking former Postoffice building (1923-1925) near Széll Kálmán tér.

Andor Wellisch (1887-1956)

An architect full of riddles. On the face a son who followed in his father Alfréd footsteps, and who has designed some remarkable buildings, especially in the late Art Nouveau period.

But, most likely, is that least some of the buildings, which officially were designed by father and son, are the creative work of another, a person who for 36 years managed the office. A very creative person who probably never was graduated as an architect and therefore officially no buildings can be found in Budapest designed by him.


(Last modification: October 10, 2012)