Budapest is a goldmine of stunning and intriguing architecture – a dream for design lovers. We recently rounded up 5 intricate staircases, and now we're back with another gem. This downtown residential building on Petőfi tér keeps it sleek and elegant on the outside but feels like a modern hotel inside. It's had its fair share of famous residents, honoured by plaques on its facade. And here's a fun fact: Pest's first post office once operated within these very walls.
An elegant building on the banks of the Danube
Stop at the Pest side of the Elizabeth Bridge, right at the beginning of the Danube Promenade. With the river and Buda behind you, you'll be facing the building at 3–5 Petőfi tér. One side of it marks the beginning of Régi Posta utca, while the other stands beside the 18th-century Orthodox church. In 1937, renowned architect Andor Wellisch designed this modernist gem for the prestigious Salgótarján Coal Mining Company’s pension fund. His vision – a sleek, reinforced concrete-framed building seamlessly adjoining the church – was approved without a single modification. By 1938, this refined and elegantly understated residential block was complete.
If you're not a fan of simplicity and minimalism, you might easily walk past this building without a second glance. But we have at least two reasons why you shouldn't. First, this corner building is adorned with seven commemorative plaques. Second, the stunning staircase. Part of it peeks out from the street, and even from that brief glimpse, it’s clear it could easily pass for the lobby of a 1920s or 1930s hotel. But the real beauty? That remains hidden from view.
Easier to enter than to exit
While curious onlookers are almost magnetically drawn inside by the sight, it’s worth knowing that while getting in is easy, leaving isn’t always as simple. Exiting requires either a gate key or a special code. The building has a porter’s booth, and if you ring the bell, the porter might kindly let you in to admire what’s hidden from the street view. One of these hidden gems is the crown jewel of the entrance hall – a stunning dome made of circular glass panels, alongside the elegantly curving staircases and a charming inner courtyard. The entrance hall’s design owes much to the work of renowned architects Aladár and Viktor Olgyay, who were behind numerous residential buildings, factories, and hotels throughout Budapest.
Elegant building with elegant residents
Even when it was first built, buying an apartment in this building was quite the investment – its prime location alone made sure of that. Over the years, it's been home to affluent citizens, intellectuals, and artists, many of them well-known figures, as reflected by the commemorative plaques adorning its exterior. Those fortunate enough to reside here today continue to enjoy its rich legacy.
Sources:
- budapest100.hu
- Szűcs Ádám: Budapest legszebb lécsőházai: Petőfi tér 3–5., varosban.blog.hu
(Cover photo: Major Kata - We Love Budapest)
