Budapest Architect: Art Nouveau - Overview

Topics: Introduction * History * Architects around 1900 * An Art Nouveau villa in a suburb of Budapest * Acorns... The Mókus as ornament in the architecture * The Art Nouveau mosaic triptych by A. Dudits * Artists * Ornamentation / Styles * Private tour - Early Art Nouveau 1897-1904

Introduction

Budapest and Art Nouveau ...... inextricably linked and of an unprecedented wealth, although this architectural heritage is not always carefully handled. Today, the city still has hundreds of buildings with Art Nouveau influences.

This section of the website "Budapest Architect" will be expanded with several chapters that describe all kind of aspects of this architectural movement. In the first instance the work is focused on the extension of the list of architects designing buildings in the Art Nouveau era. And that is a mega job because from many of them is little of none information available and also lists of which buildings they designed are not complete or even don't excist.

History

Art Nouveau came into fashion in Budapest around 1895/1896. Ödön Lechner was undoubtedly one of the major architects, who at that moment was working on e.g. the building for the Museum of Applied Arts.

However, there were also exhibitions that the citizens of Budapest show this new art movement, such as an exhibition held in January 1896 during which paintings by Jan Toorop were exhibited. At the same time as Ödön Lechner, who developed his own style, other architects, such as Frigyes Spiegel applied the more Viennese / Western form of Art Nouveau in his designs. This page briefly describes the history and development of Art Nouveau in Budapest. (Photo: detail of the ornamentation on the facede of one of the eldest Art Nouveau buildings in Budapest)

Architects around 1900

During the Art Nouveau era over 100 architects were active. In the eyes of many, Ödön Lechner was the most important architect. And his influence is still clearly visible in Budapest.

But there also were architects which used other Art Nouveau styles for the design of their buildings such as Samuel Révész and József Kollár. This duo generally wielded the more German Art Nouveau style. This page gradually will provide an overview of all architects who've designed buiildings in the period from about 1895 to 1914. Currently descriptions are available from about 50 architects. They are not all architects which applied the Art Nouveau style in their designs, because also in this period buildings were designed in e.g. neo-styles. (Photo: statue of Ödön Lechner near the Museum of Applied Arts)

An Art Nouveau villa in a suburb of Budapest

During one of the numerous walks made by Julius he discovered an Art Nouveau villa. Very dilapidated, not inhabited and for sale. Once (when it was in a better state) it easily could compete with the villas on the Városligeti Fasor. Who the architect is and the date of the building is not yet known and the suspicion is that the building dates from around 1903-1904.

Soon research will be done to be 100% sure who's the architect, but there is a strong suspicion who is responsible for the design. As soon as these facts are known, the building will get a place in the chapter "Building of the Month" and then also the location will  be announced. Until then you can view this building on the basis of detailed photos, shown on this page. (Photo: detail of the ornamentation of the Art Nouveau villa)

Acorns... The Mókus as ornament in the architecture

The facade ornamentation of the buildings in Budapest which are built in the Art Nouveau period, is very special and lush. In fact, is's unprecedented what in this city has been realized. But, you have to look close to see the details.

One of those facade decorations concerns the portraying of the Mókus (squirrel) on the walls or in buildings. Almost certain is that all these buildings are designed in the Art Nouveau period, during which the Mókus was used as ornamentation, and by Jewish architects for Jewish customers. For the websites Szia Budapest and Budapest architect Julius compiled a page with over 20 pictures of the Mókus. (Photo: squirrel on a lamp from 1911 in a building in Budapest)

The Art Nouveau mosaic triptych by A. Dudits

A page dedicated to an unique Art Nouveau mosaic triptych that can be found high on the facade of the building on the VIII. Nepszinház utca 22 in Budapest. The architect Emil Vidor, the artist: Andor Dudits.

Because of the height, the details are not clearly to see, and that's a pitty, because the artwork is of a great beauty. Also a work of art that is decay and the hope that by publication of the photographs, it wil be restored. Without restoration the artwork wil disappear within a few years and that would be a cultural diaster for the city. (Photo: detail of the mosaic triptych)

Artists (not yet online)

A page that will be online in the second half of 2012. For the ornamentation of the Art Nouveau buildings many artists were responsible. But there's still no good overview on the internet.

Geza Maróti is named as the most important sculptor and Miksa Róth as the most important person who designed stained-glass and etched windows. But there were much more artists responsible for the beautiful art. Currently, by using photographs and comparing details, Julius tries to get a first overview, but this cost a lot of time. Therefore you have to be patient if you want to view his page. (Photo: door handle on the door of a building designed by the architects Béla and Sándor Löffler)

Ornamentation / Styles (not yet online)

A page which will be online later in 2012. During the Art Nouveau period in Budapest many styles with accompanying ornamentation were used: Hungarian, Vienna, Western/French, German and so on. This page, which still is under construction, will show all these different styles. (Photo: part of the ornamentation on a building designed by Sámuel Révész and József Kollár)


 

Private tour - Early Art Nouveau 1897-1904

Budapest has hundreds of buildings with Art Nouveau influences and designed in numerous styles such as the German Jugendstil style or the Viennese style. Of course there's also the "Lechner" style.

During this private tour you will see several highlight of early Art Nouveau buildings which in general not have the "Lechner"style (or designed by him) but other styles. You will see buildings designed by e.g. Emil Vidor or Frigyes Spiegel and you also will see buildings wih a mixture between classical styles and Art Nouveau. It's a private tour during which we often make use of the excellent public transport in Budapest. (Photo: "Eva" - tile designed by Géza Maróti on a building from 1901)


(Last modification: October 12, 2012)