Richard Mansion, 22 Teréz körút

Source: MESZL Budapest Collection

Between Oktogon and the Art Cinema, on the first corner stand nr. 22 Teréz körút, the Richard Mansion.

Baron Henrik Schossberger (left) and Baron Richard von Wartinberg Drasche (right)
Source: Arcanum/Tolnai Világlapja, aeiou.at

Henrik Schossberger bought the property on the corner of Theresa Boulevard and Aradi street on 15^th June 1883 for 16 000 forints. He was none other than the descendant of the renowned and exceptionally wealthy Schossberger family, from the Tornyi line. The family, which grew rich through grain trading, banking, the tobacco and sugar industry, rose to the rank of baron. From them, and the Metropolitan Public Works Council, was the property under nr. 22 bought by Baron Richard von Wartinberg Drasche on 27^th July 1885, and he had the building constructed, which is standing here today.

Henrik Schmahl (left) and one of the façade layouts of the building (right)
Source: helyismeret.hu, Budapest Archives

The baron was an Austrian industrialist, who also acted as researcher of Asia and painter. He commissioned Henrik Schmahl for the construction of the mansion, and it was finished in 1887. Its name comes from the Baron and it’s still known by it. He, just like other families of the bourgeois of that time, did not live in this mansion, instead his home was the palace opposite the Vienna Opera House, which has the works of Károly Lotz adorning it, and the Richard Mansion was more of an investment.

Source: lasdbudapestet.blogspot.com, budapest100.hu

The corner balconies have a tower above them. Sculptural ornaments can be found on the façade between the first floor windows and the gable. Here, besides the crest of the commissioner family, there is also a stylized sundial with pendants of the Sun and the Moon, and under them is the baron’s initials on the crest. Stepping through the ornamented gate, we get into a cross-vaulted vestibule, then on the right we can reach the mezzanine, which has stone railing. Under the arches of the large main staircase, a wide set of stairs lined with stone pillars leads upstairs, where the terrazzo floor has beautiful swans. The yellow and white main staircase has glass doors and windows. The small handles are rusty but the originals, just like the supports of the stair banisters remaining in a couple of places on the wall. The house has a pleasant atmosphere; memories of the past mix with the busy present.

Source: lasdbudapestet.blogspot.com

Originally, the three-floor house had apartments on all levels. This way, each level had four apartments – 16 in total – the biggest having six, while the smallest two rooms. One of the residents recalls red carpet leading up to the first floor. In some places we can still see the rings that held down the carpet. The staircase had windows with coloured lead glass – most likely made in the workshop of Miksa Róth. The resident also said that one of the famous people that had lived here was the daughter of Menyhért Kraszner, the owner of the Japanese Café.

Source: budapest100.hu

Sources: lasdbudapestet.blogspot.com, budapest100.hu, enbudapestem.hu