The Art Nouveau “twins”, 7-9 Lázár street

Lázár street back then, the "twins" on the left, St. Stephen's Basilica in the center
Source: Fortepan / József Kádár

The houses under numbers 7 and 9 were born at the same time, their styles are similar, only differing in the details. Both facades have an inscription saying "Tervezte Freund Dezső műépítész" (Designed by Dezső Freund architect – ed.), by the lower corner of the first-floor window on the side: on the left on nr. 9 and on the right on nr. 7 (symmetrically placed). The cast stone base is identical on both houses and in perfect condition, but it has graffiti on it in many places.

   
Source: egykor.hu

 
Inscription next to the first-floor windows: on the wall of 9 (left) and 7 (right) Lázár street
Source: Google Maps

The condition of nr. 9 is worsem half of the plaster had peeled off, the bottom of the balconies and the balustrades are worn down. The ground floor was replastered, its color still nice (a light yellow), but this has also begun to peel off. The carved, decorative wooden openings have remained. On the wall there are geometrical ornaments and next to the windows are floral patterns. Figures only appear above the entrance: two abstracted squirrels with fruit baskets.

   
 
Source: kep-ter.blog.hu, hessenwinkel.wordpress.com

Nr. 7 has been beautifully renovated, the wall ornaments similar to its twin, sometimes even matching exactly. Under the windows we can find birds and squirrels, while pilasters closed with human heads are by the center windows. Above the entrance is a male head with a beard watching over the place, with floral patterns on each side. The old wooden openings are still here. Their frames are more free-formed than the geometrical window frames on the neighbouring building; the delicately shaped entrance door also has some arches. The openings on the ground floor are brown, while the upstairs windowframes are all painted dark green.

   
Source: kep-ter.blog.hu, 24.hu, szecessziosmagazin.com

Above the ground floor, both houses have cour d'honneur, providing better lighting for the apartments. The gates are pulled back from the construction border, so there would be space for entrances of shops on the left and right. The houses only differ in details of the Hungarian folkish-art nouveau decorations and ornamentations. The gateway has art nouveau stuccos and blue-green enamelled ceramics. The gallery in the courtyard has steel plates, the art-nouveau rails are made of wrought-iron. The whole courtyard has a basement underneath for storage, so for lighting the floor of the yard is made of glass and clinker bricks.

    
Source: kep-ter.blog.hu, szecessziosmagazin.com

The predecessor of the current building, according to the information of the Archives, was commissioned for by Mayer Policzer in 1864, hiring Károly Hild for the reconstruction of a one-story residential house on this lot. In the 19^th century, before the forming of Andrássy Road, this place was busy and crowded, with one- and two-story houses on the narrow streets. It was populated mostly by tradesmen, and even had Hermina Square (around where the current Opera House stands) in close proximity, which was famed for its flea markets, and during the first phase of the construction of Andrássy Road, the fair has moved to the square.

The floor plan of the reconstructed house by Károly Hild (1864)
Source: archivportal.hu (kep-ter.blog.hu)

The art nouveau twin houses were constructed in 1911, their designer Dezső Freund. The builders: Lajos and József Rothauser build masters. The commissioner of nr. 7 was Gyula Láner and co., while of nr. 9 was Hanni Schreiber. Later both houses were taken over by Lajos and Gyula Strausz. They stayed here for quite awhile, on several other plans their family name appeared as commissioners in 1942, and even in 1946. After the war, however, the same script began playing again: the house was nationalized and given over to IKV (Real Estate and Property Management Ltd. – ed.). A renovation done in 1946 indicates possible damages from the war. In the 50s, the large reconstructions have started up, dividing up the big apartments.

Dezső Freund, the architect of the "twins"
Source: Wikipedia

One construction during this has a particularly heartwarming story. Many residents of city apartment houses would do anything to have their own – or shared with the other house residents – roof terraces, where they could organize quiet birthday parties, have chance to sunbathe, or just sit outside and watch the city. Reality, however, usually puts a wrench in those dreams: many of the 19^th and 20^th century apartment houses don’t have flat rooftops, while in other places the residents cannot agree on this, since they would have to pitch in financially to the common costs for the prevention of obvious accidents, making these plans less alluring as a result.

   
Source: archivportal.hu

This wasn’t the case, though, with the residents of 9 Lázár street between the Opera House and St. Stephen’s Basilica. In the summer of 1954, they decided: they are going to create a rooftop solarium with a shower and sandbox.

According to the article of Esti Budapest (1^st September 1954) about the opening event, the head of the residential committee, Mrs. Imre Steiner, wanted to surprise the children living in the house with a playground, so she came up with this idea. It wasn’t just the children that were happy about this change, but their parents and their neighbours, as well, because in this way, besides the space for sunbathing and dancing, less noise will reach the apartments from the yard.

„They carried about 4 tons of gravel and 600 kilos of cement up to the fifth floor. Construction went on during the nights and on Sundays. The technicians of the house coordinated the work, they installed the water pipes and electricity, made the furniture” – reads the article.

The rooftop, where the solarium was probably built (green frame)
Source: 24.hu

Some might think from this story that the residents of the house just wanted the noise of children to be farther from their apartments, but that wasn’t the case – and this was shown in an article a year later from Esti Budapest (15^th November 1955). From that article, it becomes obvious that the residential committee loved the children, since they had storytimes in the afternoon and puppet shows organized for them. The residents welcomed all children from the neighbourhood, as well, on the viewings held in a different apartment each time – if, of course, their behavior was A+, explained Mrs. Steiner, who was by now known as Mrs. Story.

Recently nr. 9 has gone through a renovation, its facade is once again a bright, fresh yellow.

 
Source: utcater.hu

Sources: 24.hu, egykor.hu, kep-ter.blog.hu