An Introduction to the Memorial Issue Devoted to István Medgyaszay Text: György Szegő Photo: Archive photo © István Medgyaszay’s Memorial House The career of architect István Medgyaszay was defined by the objective phrased by Ödön Lechner: “There has not been such a thing as Hungarian form, but there will be.” His personality was genuinely and highly […]
2017
István Medgyaszay Memorial Conference and Exhibition
Pesti Vigadó, 20. 09. 2017 István Medgyaszay is one of the most outstanding figures of 20th-century architecture in Central Europe. His works, however, have been underestimated compared to their significance both in Hungarian and international architectural history. Lectures included in the programme of the memorial conference held to honour his oeuvre targeted to survey and […]
Ferro-concrete and Szekler gate
Modernism and identity in the architecture of István Medgyaszay Text: Ákos Moravánszky Concrete is a defining material in modern architecture, which has evolved into a symbol of the Modernist movement and later on became that of the negative consequences of modernization. The Szekler gate is actually just the opposite of everything represented by reinforced concrete: it […]
Architecture and Ornamentation in the Oeuvre of István Medgyaszay
Text: Ferenc Potzner Ornamentation is present in every single branch of fine arts. It adjusts itself to materials, techniques and technologies, may show a wide variety from being flat or highly sculpturesque, containing geometric, botanical or figural motifs. If we interpret ornamentation clearly as form, which may even be spatial, then in the wider sense of […]
An Artistic Form of Reinforced Concrete (1908)
International Architects Congress, Wien, 1908 Text: István Medgyaszay On May 22nd, 1908 the 8th International Conference of Architects was held in Vienna, in the auditorium of the Association of Austrian Engineers and Architects with the participation of 437 delegates from a total of 10 countries. The chairman of the event was Otto Wagner. István Medgyaszay, […]
A Long-Forgotten House by Medgyaszay in the Civil Servants’ Housing Estate
Text: Eszter Baldavári Celebrating the 140th anniversary of the birth of architect István Medgyaszay, professionals with the Museum of Hungarian Architecture have been surveying and mapping all the works of the architect located in Budapest in the year 2017. The author of this article has come upon documents whilst participating in this project that prove […]
Sample tracking
A pseudo-Medgyaszay house in Buda Text: Renáta Herczeg, Endre Prakfalvi The main facade of the building at No. 24 Retek Street bears characteristics of Art Nouveau style. Built by master architect István Schumy in 1889, it is a single-storey residential building with a – nyeregtető The original structure was extended with two additional storeys by […]
Memorial House and Archives
István Medgyaszay’s Dwelling-House on Gellért Hill Text: Eszter Götz Photos: András Surányi J. The house standing on the slopes of Gellért Hill treasures a unique archives. As a result of efforts made by the family and especially by Zoltán Bartha, Medgyaszay’s son-in-law, it was salvaged in good conditions to function now as a well-kept systemized […]
Architect István Medgyaszay 1877–1959
Memorial Exhibition Pest Vigadó, Septermebr 20th, 2017 Room Károly Kós, Association of Hungarian Architects, September 25th-October 6th The conference commemorating the 14th anniversary of István Medgyaszay in Vigadó, Pest is completed with an exhibition that surveys the oeuvre of the architect as well as a systemized cmprehensive presentation of buildings by Medgyaszay, including those reconstructed […]
Reformation 500
The Traces of the Memorial Year of Reformation Left on the Townscape Text: Eszter Götz Photos: Balázs Danyi, Ákos Polgárdi The world celebrates the 500th anniversary of Luther’s action in 2017. The Memorial Year of Reformation has activated cultural and religious life in Hungary too. Some of the commemorations were significant for architecture and townscapes and cityscapes. […]
Following Forms or Innovation?
Architecture of the Reformed in Hungary from the turn of the century to the change of the political regime Text: Zorán Vukoszávlyev, Erzsébet Urbán, Dóra Danielisz, Eszter Baku From the very beginning of the Protestant movement till today, a large number of architects, art historians and theologists have dealt with the issues concerning the appropriate design […]
Architectural Syntheses
Béla Lajta’s Funeral Art Text and photos: Tamás Kiss Funeral works form a formative segment of Lajta’s oeuvre as he had designed more than forty graveyard monuments throughout his lifetime, which is a unique achievement. amongst architects. His highly active and versatile period spanning 15 years saw several revivals of his architectural forms. His creations […]