HUNGARIAN ARCHITECTURE AND
DECORATION. By A. S. Levetus.

HUNGARIAN architecture and decorative art is rapidly-
becoming known beyond the frontiers of Hungary.
Through the articles published in The Studio and The
Studio Year Books of Decorative Art, other countries
have become acquainted with the fact that in modern art and all
pertaining to it, Hungary is far from being in the background; and
consequently the leading architects and decorative artists in Vienna
(among them being Professor Otto Wagner and Gustav Klimt),
irrespective of creed, have lately visited Budapest for the purpose of
studying matters artistic for themselves, and they have come away
highly satisfied with what they had seen. Moreover, several foreign
publications are also interesting themselves in the matter, so that
Hungary may fairly be said to be taking a place among those
countries assisting in the development of modern art.
Undoubtedly both Fezel and Lechner, the fathers of modern
architecture in Hungary, are great men. At the late exhibition in
Rome Lechner was awarded the gold medal, the chief of all prizes
devoted to modern architecture, while L. and J. Vago gained the
silver medal : these latter are, however, of the present generation.
Many of the younger men are doing excellent work, Bela Lajta has
been entrusted with the building of a Home for Aged Jewish Poor in
Budapest (pp. 244—5). The building is characteristic, the decoration
being purely Hungarian in style. Though from the exterior it is
somewhat imposing, it is eminently “ dwellable,” and suited to its
purpose. The gardens are beautifully arranged, no detail has been
forgotten, and the whole scheme has been carried out with sympathy
and understanding for those who are to reside there.
To Hassz and Malnai has been entrusted the building of many
residential flats and villas. Here, too, excellent work has been done,
for while retaining Hungarian characteristics, the buildings are in
every way modern, and, moreover, not only as regards the archi-
tecture, but also as regards comfort. Others of the younger
generation actively employed are the brothers Jonas, Korosif Kiss,
Lajos Kozma, Tory and Pogany, and E. Wigand, who is still
busy in Maros-Vasarhely, where he is engaged in erecting a
cc Palace of Culture.” This will be a most interesting edifice, for
Wigand has, during the last three or four years, been especially
occupied in studying ancient Hungarian architecture and methods
of building in this part of the country. When it is said that artists
of the recognised standing of Aladar Kriesch-Korofoi are engaged
in designing the mosaics, and that other eminent Hungarian designers
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