Another house of art nouveau - 76 Csengery street

Source: welovebudapest.com

The Csengery street was the peripheral street of the reform-era Theresatown, which was gradually formed from a former dirt path. At the start of the 19th century, it was called "Rákosárok" street (Rakosch, or Rakusch Graben Gasse), then it officially received the name Rákosárok in 1874. Its current name has been given in 1881.

  
Source: welovebudapest.com, Iparművészeti Múzeum Szecessziós Építészet Gyűjteménye

In 1859, János Baár bought the estate on this area for 1260 forints on an auction, according to the deed in the land register. In 1892, he gifted the place to the Evangelical Consistory of Budapest. This act was not to the liking of his daughter, Ferencné Luczianovits née Karolina Baár: she attacked it through legal means. The courts did not accept he request, so the estate was given to the Evangelical Consistory.

In 1899, though, someone else got their eye on the old house: the dream of owning an apartment house was floating around in Katalin Rosenfeld's mind. She and her husband, Sándor Strausz, driven by the grand idea of building a new, beautiful apartment house in Theresatown, commissioned one of the architect dous of the country, who were young but passionate and bursting with ideas. This duo pictured the folk motifs of the nationalist art nouveau in the monotone world of 1900s downtown streets. Although the house is reminiscent of the works of Ödön Lechner, it wasn't his. We're not far off with our assumption, though, because this nice apartment house, hidden from camera-toting tourists, was planned by two Lechner-students: Marcell Komor and Dezső Jakab, making this their first joint project.

 
Marcell Komor (left) and Dezső Jakab (right) architect duo
Source: tervlap.hu, wikipedia.org

Marcell Komor and Dezső Jakab established their joint office in 1897 and their cooperation was the result of a mere coincidence: Dezső Jakab simply walked into Komor's office, and seeing how swamped the architect was with work, he just sat down to draw. He asked nothing in exchange for his works, even when Marcell Komor won the tender that had Dezső Jakab help in creating.

  
Source: lasdbudapestet.blogspot.com, Iparművészeti Múzeum Szecessziós Építészet Gyűjteménye

The house is practically overrun by the battlements decorated with ribbon and the net of vines, tulips and hearts on the facade. This ornamentation doesn't stop as we step through the gate. These meticulous lace-like patterns with folk motifs also surround the windows of the three-story building. Anyone, who likes to get lost in the details, should take a good look at the gate, because the wrought iron ornament shows a cypress. Stepping in, the galleries with their leaf ornamented, wrought iron rails, the flowery columns, vaults and lace-like patterns, usual features of the entire building, can leave the spectators in awe.

   
Source: Iparművészeti Múzeum Szecessziós Építészet Gyűjteménye

In the entrance hall, we are greeted by cement tiles under our feet with blue and brown flowers on them, while on the walls and ceiling, stucco decorations catch our eyes. On the right, the vaulted main staircase starts by marble doubled columns. These stocky columns return in every landing, and faces of angels watch over passersby on the sides.. The leaf patterned consols holding up the galleries create a nice harmony with the wrought iron rails and supports. The dark yellow plaster also has tiny, meringue-like flowers and heaarts, another returning feature of the works of Lechner - and his students. Walking on the narrow spiral staircase in the back, the toilets had once opened from a small entrance. The wrought iron spirals of the galleries are covered in flowers from Spring till Winter, even creating some smaller oases.

   
Source: lasdbudapestet.blogspot.com, Iparművészeti Múzeum Szecessziós Építészet Gyűjteménye

The place is still operating as an apartment house, but the basement is taken by the "Exit The Room" escape room game and there is also a law firm in the building.

Source: Iparművészeti Múzeum Szecessziós Építészet Gyűjteménye

Sources: welovebudapest.com, lasdbudapestet.blogspot.com