Six Iconic Budapest Buildings

While Budapest has a distinctive and unique feel--one like no other city on earth--it is also packed with diverse styles of architecture. Art Deco, Bauhuas, Neo-Baroque, Art Nouveau, and not to mention, Brutalist styles sit side by side on the avenues and streets of Buda and Pest (with more than a few distinctive bridges joining the city’s two sides). This week we’ll have a look at a few of Budapest’s more iconic buildings. We will leave out the obvious locations of Parliament and the State Opera House in favor of some lesser publicized spots. 

The Museum of Applied Arts: Designed by Ödön Lechner. Lechner is arguably Hungary’s most celebrated architect. Grandfather of the Hungarian Secession movement, he frequently drew inspiration from folk life as well as popular artistic movements from both West and East. The 1893 Museum of Applied Arts is regarded as one of his most impressive creations.

via Wikipedia Commons

Occasionally mis-attributed to Gustave Eiffel, the Central Market Hall was completed in 1897, and was in fact designed by Hungarian architect and academic Samu Pecz. This mistake is understandable, as it does look something like an ornate train station in Paris, and Eiffel did have a hand in designing Budapest’s Nyugati train station. Tourists arrive at the train station, but flock to the Market Hall, and with good reason.

by Thalar Tamas, via Wikipedia

The Török Bank: also Secessionist, this 1906 structure was designed by architects Armin Hegedűs and Henrik Böhm. In downtown Pest, the Secessionist mosaic by Miksa Róth—Patrona Hungariae— is best viewed from across the street.

The Török Bank via Wikipedia Commons

The 1927, Sándy Gyula-designed Budai Postapalota, or, the Postal Palace, is currently under renovation and on its way to becoming the Museum of Finance and Banking History. The structure overlooks Széll Kalman Square and sat empty for many years before serious renovation began recently.

Budai Postapalota

The Budapest Hotel: even the hotel’s website calls it an ‘oddball’. But over time the Körszálló—the ‘Round Hotel’—became emblematic of 1960’s Budapest, looking at once cosmopolitan and Brutalist in style. It’s one of the few iconic hotels in Budapest that is also affordable.

Budapest Hotel via Danubus Hotels site

Over the next few weeks, we will look at some more iconic Budapest buildings, as well as some in the countryside, or at least outside of the capital. There are any number of buildings in Hungary worthy of a ‘best of’ list. if you have any personal favorites, leave them in the comments.

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.