Wahrmann Palace, 23 Andrássy Road 


Source: Urbface

The Andrássy Road in Pest was the center of the largest urban planning movement of the 19th century. From 1883, it was called "Sugárút" (Boulevard - ed.), then in 1886 it received the name Andrássy Road. From 1950, the road bore the name Sztálin Road, but in October 1956 it was changed to "Magyar Ifjúság útja" (Hungarian Youth Road - ed.), then from 1957 to 1990 it was "Népköztársaság útja"  (People's Republic Road - ed.). Since then it went back to and remained Andrássy Road.  The Wahrmann Palace located at 23 Andrássy Road was planned by Vilmos Freund and János Kauser from 1882 to 1885, commissioned by Mór Wahrmann. The building's design was modelled after Oppenheim Palace in Dresden, which was built by Gottfried Semper.

Source: kozterkep.hu

The palace was one of the most beautiful houses of Sugárút. The street corner opposite the Opera House gave huge significance to the building. This was enhanced by the simple, aesthetically proportioned renaissance facade. Its gate framed by caryatids is one of Andrássy Road's finest.

Source: Urbface

The main decorations of the gateway are the red marble pillar pairs that accompany the wide stone stairrails as repeating pilasters. The most elegant places are the landings beween floors. Their rich decoration is put together by the harmonious building elements on all surfaces. The terrazzo pattern of the floor is consistent with the stucco of the ceiling and the motif of the slender glass walls with coloured and acid-etched glazing reoccurs in the rich, almost-baroque-style carvings of the apartment entrances.

Source: kozterkep.hu

The owner, Mór Wahrmann, had a flat on the first floor, which once had taken up the whole level. Currently it's an office space, but they kept the decorations in the representative rooms. The typical bourgeois apartment didn't count as extraordinary in its time; however, today it is an important and unique relic of a bygone lifestyle - expertly restored, of course.

Source: Wikipedia

As seen on the picture, the two Flora caryatids by the entrance are the works of the most famous sculptor of the time, Alajos Stróbl.

Source: National Széchényi Library, Electronic Periodical Archive

Mór Wahrmann wasn't just a successful businessman with enormous wealth, but the first Jewish member of Parliament, who made his mark on Hungarian history. 

Source: pestbuda.hu, wagner-peter.hu