Those lucky enough to live in one of Budapest’s classic apartment buildings may admire the floor covered with beautiful tiles. At the end of the 19th century, the use of terrazzo tiling became popular. József Walla was the greatest Hungarian master – before then, a number of Italian craftsmen produced these 20x20 m cement slabs around the Hungary. Walla’s cement processing plant was located in District VII, and its ornate products even won the favour of Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph.
The so-called Danish apartment block on the corner of Bécsi utca and Deák Ferenc utca has nothing to do with any Scandinavian residents, but tanners Leo and Károly Dán (‘Danish’), who ran the renowned Pannónia Báránybőr-nemesítő Trading company. Designed by Izidor Sterk, this six-storey eclectic residential building, built in 1910 and rich in Art Nouveau elements, is exciting not only because of the gold and glass portal, but also because of its mosaic floor in the stairwell.
The balcony of the Art Nouveau house at the end of Hajós utca, covered with colourful flowers, also blossomed a few years after its bright balconies were renovated. Szedő House was designed by Béla Málnai, and its stained-glass windows are most likely the work of the famed Miksa Róth. It is also worth walking through the flowery doorway, sometimes open, because the floral and leaf motifs repeated across the floor.
The
apartment building
on the corner of Vámház körút 15 and Lónyay
utca, Dlauchy House,
was designed by Miklós Ybl of
Opera House fame, and
features
a fresco by the
equally renowned Károly
Lotz on top of its spiral staircase, decorated with wrought-iron
railings. The presence of stained-glass windows and enclosed
balconies overlooking the courtyard fountain is the
icing on the cake.
Unfortunately, the
effects of time
can be seen on the fresco, rising dust and fumes meaning it darkens
above the stairs and
it
should
be restored. The
concrete image remains intact, however. The
corridors of the house designed for locksmith Károly Dlauchy were
filled with flowery
tiles,
the geometric slabs seen here are only small extensions.
One of Béla Málnai's greatest works, the apartment building designed for the Hungarian General Coal Mine, is located at Kossuth Lajos tér 13-15. The architect was most famous for his Art Nouveau and experiments with modern forms, so this eclectic, Historicist house is interesting. Stepping through the wrought-iron and glass gates, you enter a fascinating world: a fireplace, a marble bench, a wrought-iron chandelier and a marble floor with a geometric pattern that contrasts from this overall effect.
