Secession architecture in the 7th district

An image gallery presenting shots from one of the most interesting district of Budapest, as far as secession architecture is concerned.

Article, pictures and google map follow …
This part of Pest is well known as the jewish district: in fact here reside the most important jewish buildings of Budapest, included the Great Synagogue in Dohány utca according to the plans of the Viennese architect Ludwig Foerster.

A lot of information about this synagogue are available on the internet, also in english language. A good starting point would be the following: http://www.bh.org.il/communities/Synagogue/budapest.asp
As far as the Secession Architecture is concerned, maybe the most important building in the district is another synagogue, perhaps not as famous as the Foerster’s on, but eventually the only masterpiece built by the famous viennese artist Otto Wagner in Budapest.

“The Rumbach synagogue was designed by the Austrian architect Otto Wagner, and was built in romantic style in 1872. According to my notes, the round hall inside features two huge balconies for women congregants, arched windows, and semi-domes. The interior is very richly decorated. Unfortunately, the Rumbach schul is no longer used for services, and is not open to the public at all. But apparently the reconstruction is to be completed. – http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/synagogues/rumbach.html
“

I visited the inner of the Wagner synagogue this summer: works are actually in progress and the synagogue is far to be completely refurbished.

I took only a couple of picture of the interiors, but I could have an exact idea of the decorations. In a different way respect the outside, the decorations constitute by either geometric and stylized floral themes, an outstanding preview of the styles widely used in the further productions of the Wiener Werkstaette.

Other two synagogues are there in the 7th district, due to the architects Bela and Sandor Loeffler. The two buildings are respectively in Dohany and Dob utca. The two authors were very interesting by stylistic point of view as well for the symbolism they used in their building’s decorations. You have to expect (very) soon a monograph post about the two Loeffler.

Other buildings in the district are interesting, even those designed to serve as simple apartments buildings. Some of them are styled with the typical geometrical lines of several other buildings of the Wiener Secession:

Other are much more hungarian, maybe influenced by the quest for a national style pursued by artisti such as Odon Lechner:

Other influenced by the minimalistic design of the school of Adolf Loos:

And even there are a couple of buildings with floral decorations really close to those of the Wiener Werkstaette (and, as well, somewhat similar to the decoration of the Gresham Palace in V district):

Even with a jewish taste, even in the details:

The following list of secession buildings was copied by the official 7th district web site:

In my opinion, one of the most curious and effective buildings in the district was the one ubicated at number 7 of Almassy ter. It is due by the work of an unknown (at least to me) architect, and the facade is fully populated by different kind of devils …

Complete album and google map follow …

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The 7th district