Building of the Month: June 2011 - Napóleon-Udvar

Topics: Introduction * History of this building * The building from the outside * The building from the inside * Architect * Photo gallery * Where can you find this building

Introduction

Take just the door of this building, which is named Napóleon-Udvar...Eye-catching! ..... But,  in the Art Nouveau era when you wanted to design a house, which jumped out in terms of facade ornamentation and other decorations, then you knew that the architct Gyula Fodor was the right person. Nowadays still many buildings of this architect can be viewed in Budapest.

History of this building

The Napóleon-Udvar was built in 1905-1906 in a section of the VI. district that has a relatively large number of buildings from the period 1900-1915, while a single building can be found of the 30s. Very different from just 1 block south, right behind the Opera, where neo-styles are more in the majority. The building is an official monument since 1997.

There seems to be a statue of Napoleon at the upperside of the building but nowadays it is hidden by plastic. The building probable got his name as a tribute to the emperor by whom Jewish people got more rights and who was responsible that also Jews got an offical surname since 1815.

The building from the outside

In a word: dilapidated. For years the facade partially is packed in plastic and, as usual with this kind of difficult restorations, it is not easy to obtain sufficient funds, and all residents must agree with the plans to restore the building to its former glory. In this case, an agony that lasts for over 10 years.

In particular, the restoration of the roof still not took place and an important part of the beauty of the building and the facade is thus hidden from view. Also the facade includes dozens of damages occured due to bullet holes of the 1956 revolution and other signs of deterioration.

It's a huge building that is sandwiched between 3 streets, although only one street do have a real entrance. As far as can be seen, the window frames are original, something that is a miracle because in many Art Nouveau buildings owners could change window frames. Since 1997, when the building became an official monument, the rules takes a lot firmer and that was the preservation of the building. This is also probably the reason why restoration takes so long because changes are regulated in rules for monuments. (Photo: Detail of the entrance door)

The images at the top of the wall (as far as can be been) are similar to the "fixed sculptor" which Gyula Fodor used  for decorations in several of its buildings. For the rest, given the other buildings of Gyula Fodor, it is one of the more austere facades, possibly because, as far as Julius known, it is one of the first buildings in Budapest that Fodor designed. No Lechner influences, no whiplash motifs, an own style.

The building from the inside

Grandeur .... you can see that these apartments once was inhabited by the middle class, certainly in the Jewish world. The stained-glass windows are beautiful (restored) and if you look through the entrance door, you are able to see a splendid example in the door that leads to the courtyard. Right after the front door a second door is present, the wooden frame (with carved ornamentations) is still present, the glass unfortunately is disappeared.

As usual the main entrance has several decorations in the form of reliefs. The stairwell with stained-glass windows and the railings of the staircase are lovely. It looks if there was an elevator from the start, surrounded by the stairway. In a word: elegant.

Architect

Gyula Fodor (1872-1942) Biographical seen on the Internet almost unknown. Given his birth, he graduated around 1897 and when the information Julius has, is correct, he designed in 1905 his first building in Budapest. His career spanned some 25 years in which certainly 22 buildings have been designed which still exist. In designing his buildings Gyula Fodor often worked together with the same artists regarding wall decorations (statues, reliëfs), doors and stained-glass windows. It is one of the architects who not followed the "Lechner-style". Also an architect whose style you can quickly identify.

Photo gallery

Below a selection of interior and exterior photographs of the Napóleon-Udvar. 

Where can you find this building

The building is located on the VI. Hajós utca 25. This is just behind the Opera and therefore near M1 stop "Opera"
The GPS coördinates of this location are: N. 47° 30.250 / E. 19° 3.430
 


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(Last modification: October 12, 2012)