The Domes of Budapest

Budapest is known for its fine architecture dating mostly to the last quarter of the 19th century. This is when it became the city if bourgeoise who were decorating their house with domes, turrets and towers — to show off, to stand out and proud.

What houses today the reading room of <a href="http://www.fszek.hu" target="new">Budapest Municipal Library</a> used to be a ball room in Wenckheim family residence.

The building was built in 1887 by Artur Meining whose specialization was aristocratic residences in Hungary. The library was severely damaged in 1946, but restored later to its full glory.

This house was build in 1890s, in the time this area and Alkotmány street in particular were actively transformed into grand boulevards with broad tree-lined streets and elegant mansions.

This building was a luxury apartment house constructed for Hungarian Journalists’ Retirement Fund. Before the turn of the 19th century Hungarian journalism was on the rise and gaining power and huge public interest. Their power was definitely expressed in this building with decorative dome.

Located next to what is today US Embassy, Sváb house was built on the spot of demolished army barracks in 1901 by wealthy (an later noble) Sváb family owning number of buildings around the city.

This house with four mosaics on the facade (presumably representing four seasons) was built by descendants of Italian family Szevera that came to Pest in 18th century and brought with them the secret of cooking meat for salami.