The majority of art nouveau or secession style architecture in Budapest dates from 1895-1915. Buda was the second capital in the Austro-Hungarian empire and in 1873 Pest and Obuda were combined with Buda to form one city. Soon after this Budapest saw an influx of money from Emperor Franz Joseph, with the intention of building up and beautifying the 'other' capital. At the end of the 19th century select artists and architects in Europe shed the shackles of traditional architecture and brought in styles unseen in the past. Cue the architecture we now classify as art nouveau.
Lucky for me there is secession style architecture scattered throughout Budapest which I get to enjoy on a regular basis. There are more than a few buildings worthy of particular praise, with one of them being a mere two minute walk from my apartment (building of the Museum of Applied Arts). Two of the most prolific architects in Hungary during the secessionist movement were Odon Lechner and Karoly Kos, both of whom had an affinity for colorful Zsolnay tiled roofs (Zsolnay tiles are manufactured in Pecs, Hungary).
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| Museum of Applied Arts (Lechner, 1896) |
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| Bedo House (Vidor, 1903) |
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| Postal Savings Bank (Lechner, 1901) |
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| Gresham Palace (Quittner, 1906) |
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| Budapest Zoo (Kos, 1910) |
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| Elephant House, Budapest Zoo (Kos, 1910) |
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