In 1872 the Hungarian Parliament decided to purchase “industrial Vienna’s” 1873 World Exhibition and in 1890 a contest was held to design a suitable building to house the collection and be home to the School of Applied Arts on Hõgyes Endre street.
First prize was won by a series of plans, put forth by architects Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos, inspired in oriental forms. Construction began in 1893 and the building was opened by emperor Franz Joseph on October 25th 1896 as part of the Hungarian State’s millenium celebration.
Today, the Building itself is the main attraction. It is another fine example of Hungarian secession splendor; a fairytale palace full of angles, stairwells, columns and details that enchant the eye at every turn.
The Museum itself has 5 departments: Metalwork, Furniture, Textiles, Ceramics, and Glassware. In each department, you can enjoy exquisite examples of Art Nouveau crafts. Here we glimpse the joy that defined the movement- the bringing of love, light, fancy, and flair to many a mundane necessity. I wish today’s designers would indulge in a bit more fantasy and get over this post-modernist utilitarianism :)
An interesting fact, according to the literature, is that this was the third museum to be built in Europe after the British Museum and and another in France (we’re trying to find a chronology, but having difficulty)
colored roof tiles from the Zsolnay porcelain factory, hand painted with plant motifs
Iparművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Applied Arts)
(36) 1 – 456 5100
1092 Budapest, Hőgyes Endre utca, Budapest, Hungary
www.imm.hu.
OPEN HOURS:
14:00 – 18:00 Tuesday
10:00 – 18:00 Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
10:00 – 22:00 Thursday
