Budapest Architects around 1900: Ödön Lechner (1845-1914)

Topics: Introduction * Career * New materials * Ödön Lechner vs Károly Kós * Interesting facts * Impressions of Julius * Buildings designed in Budapest

Introduction

Ödön Lechner (1845-1914) was the architect of Budapest around 1900. Founder of the Hungarian version of Art Nouveau. Because of the innovative of his designs, he was called "The Hungarian Gaudí", but also the work of Belgian architect Victor Horta has agreements. This outside the images based on the Hungarian folklife he used in his designs. Many architects after Lechner, including his pupil Béla Lajta, are tributary to this extraordinary architect who has left his mark on the architecture in Budapest around 1900. 

Career

Ödön Lechner (Lechner Ödön) followed for one year teaching at the József Business School, one of the predecessors of the current Technical University of Budapest. This study was followed by a three-year stay in Berlin where he studied at the Bauakademie. After returning from Berlin, he made a year-long study trip to Italy, a travel that was of major influence on his early designs in Budapest. In 1869 he opened, together with Gyula Partos, an architectural firm. The early work, mostly apartment buildings, had much influence of the neo-classicism of Berlin and, later, the Italian Renaissance.

In the period 1875-1878 Lechner lived in Paris and worked at the office of the French architect Clément Parent and participated in the restoration of old castles and the design of buildings in neo historical styles. After returning to Budapest, he began again to work together with Gyula Partos, a collaboration that ended in 1896.

After a trip to London in 1889/1890, where he got familiar with the local "Modern Style" he changed his style from designing buildings with neo historical influences towards developing a style based on Hungarian folk motifs and the Art Nouveau. A style that also is reflected in the design of such as Hungarian Art Nouveau furniture. Oriëntal motifs were also used (at that time they thought they were the basis of Hungarian Folk Art), and the, now unfortunately already for may years closed, Vigadó concert hall is a fine example of the Oriëntal style. Lechner himself found afterwards that his design for the Museum of Applied Arts something too much Indian.

Ödön Lechner is mentioned as the "Hungarian Gaudi". This mainly because of his innovative work. Of Lechner has ever met Gaudi is Julius unknown. What's certain is that in 1878, when Ödön Lechner lived and worked in Paris, the World Fair was held, were work by Gaudi was exposed. The influence of Ödön Lechner in the world of Hungarian architecture was considerable and he had many disciples and followers, such as (initially) Bela Lajta.

After the Museum of Applied Art, Lechner has designed many other buildings in Budapest and elsewhere, usually in collaboration with co-architects (or students). One of his latest creations, the Gimnazium in the 10th district, is after his death in 1914 completed by József Vágó. The Postatakarekpenztár on the V. Hold utca is, in the opinion of many, the most important building Lechner designed and which has beautiful motifs.

New materials

Ödön Lechner was also one of the first architects in Budapest that began with the application of new techniques and materials in construction: much use of steel (The Thonet Ház is a good example) and, through his collaboration with Vilmos Zsolnay, the famous Zsolnay factory in Pécs, including use of these products. This meant the use of glazed tiles, roof tiles, wall decorations, etc. in the design of his buildings. Because Zsolnay had developed a patented technique which those materials were resistant to outside influences such as frost, could there be made ​​good use of it when a building was realised. Ödön Lechner was closely involved in the development of these products.

Ödön Lechner vs Károly Kós

The opinion / assertion by Lechner that there was no such thing as a Hungarian style, and thus had to be created, was by other architects both embraced as rejected. Lechner explained links such as with Turkey's influences, mixed with motifs based on the Hungarian countryside. Lechner is officially honored as the inventor of the Hungarian form language, and had many followers but also critics like Karoly Kos. This architect, part of the group Fiatalok (young people) was of opinion that there was such thing as a Hungarian style. Kos reverted back on the traditional architecture which since the Middle Ages was in use in Transylvania and mixed this with Art Nouveau influences and symbols. A style that was also followed and in many places in Budapest is to see. Although architecturally different, there are also many similarities, especially in the use of plant and animal motifs which have their origin in the Hungarian countryside.

Impressions of Julius

The guided tour, developed by Julius, shows most of the buildings designed by Ödön Lechner in the period 1890 - 1914 and, yes it Postatakarekpenztár on the V. Hold utca 4 is beautiful, though it's hard to view the building good. This because of a wooden roof is built around the building to protect people against falling stones and the fact that the street at the sidewing is not accessible because of the building of the American Embassy. Yet his last building, the Gimnazium, very interesting because of its shape, the use of Art Nouveau, but also reverting back to the beginning of his career with the use of neo historical elements.

In fact, for all his designs, some of the credit for the designs of the buildings deserve particularly the co-architects that worked with Ödön Lechner. In Julius conviction they significantly contributed to the creation of these gems.

Interesting facts

* Born in Pest on August 27, 1845 and died in Budapest on June 10, 1914;
* Lechners wife died too soon in 1875, short after their mariage and after that tragedy he moved for a couple of to Paris;
* Lechner is buried on the Kerepesi cemetery on the VIII. Fiumei út ((28-19).

Buildings designed in Budapest

Nowadays you still can find the following buildings designed by Ödön Lechner:
1871-1875 - VI. Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út 43: Mándi Pál háza
1871-1872 - V. Sas utca 9 (Egykori Kéksas utca): Primayer János háza
1871-1874 - V. Veres Pálné utca 9: Kecskemét város bérháza Bp.-en.
1871-1874 - V. Szent István tér 3. Bérház
1871-1872 - VI. Andrássy út 43 [bron: http://www.terezvaros.hu/epites]
1874 - VIII. Fiumei úti temető. Primayer Irma síremléke
1875 - Budapest, Városliget, Korcsolyacsarnok (1893-ban lebontották)
1882-1884 - Andrássy út 25: MÁV Nyugdíjintézet bérháza, benne volt a Drechsler-kávéház. Volt Balettintézet. (monument)
1888-1889 - V. Váci u. 11/a: Thonet-ház (monument)
1891-1896 - IX. Üllői út 33-37: Magyar Iparművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Applie Art - monument)
1891-1897-  X. Templom tér: Szent László-plébániatemplom (St. Ladislas church - monument)
1895 - IX. Berzenczey utca 11: Lechner-ház
1896-1899 - XIV. Stefánia út 14: Földtani Intézet (Geological Institute)
1898-1900 - II. Bartók Béla út 40: Lechner Gyula háza (monument)
1899-1901 - V. Hold utca 4: Postatakarékpénztár (Nu: Magyar Államkincstár, monument)
1900 - XIV. Ajtósi Dürer sor 25: Zala György szobrászművész egykori szecessziós stílusú villája
1905 - XIV. Hermina utca 47: Sipeki Balázs Béla villája.(Nu: MVGYOSZ, a Magyar Vakok és Gyengénlátók Szövetségének székháza, monument)
1914 - VIII. Vajda Péter utca 25-31: Vajda Péter Ének-zenei Általános és Sportiskola
1914 - X. Körösi Csoma Sándor út 28-34: Szent László Gimnázium (monument)
(List subject to changes!)

(Last update and verification of links: January 4, 2012)