The legacy of Hungarian historicist architecture has only attracted the attention of researchers in the past few decades. Although the Renaissance and Baroque Revival were the dominant architectural styles of the Habsburg era, historicism was long seen as an architecture copying the past using cheaper materials. Characterized by the reinterpretation of historical styles with contemporary materials, the use of classical architectural details, and sculptural ornamentation, historicism defines the image of Budapest’s city center, including the Grand Boulevard of the Pest side, which was built in the last three decades of the 19th century.
The urban significance of the Grand Boulevard is unquestionable, creating a whole new urban structure worthy of a metropolis. In my study, I intend to examine the urbanistic significance of the historicist architectural heritage of the Grand Boulevard, and how these imposing buildings affect the urban landscape. To find the answers, I will look at the most important public buildings on the Boulevard, including the Nyugati pályaudvar [Nyugati Railway Station], the Vígszínház [Comedy Theatre], and the Népszínház [People’s Theatre] – later Nemzeti Színház [National Theatre] – on Blaha Lujza Square. I would also like to discuss the less prominent historicist apartment palaces, their typical ground plans and architectural characteristics, which equally contribute to the image of the Boulevard and the Hungarian capital.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31577/archandurb.2023.57.3-4.1
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