Arts and Crafts Museum travel guide

The Budapest Arts and Crafts Museum is one of the oldest of its kind. Not just the collection, but also the architectural surroundings in which it is presented, make a visit worthwhile.

Ödön Lechner(1845–1914), the most important proponent of Hungarian art nouveau, designed the three-storey building at Üllöi út, which opened its doors in 1896. In contrast to his work on the later Post Savings Bank building, Lechner still had recourse to past – especially oriental – architectural forms for the Arts and Crafts Museum, and melded them with national elements from Hungarian folk art into a new style. Granite tiles and roof tiles in colourful patterns from the Zsolnay factory in Pécs enliven the façade. To the right of the main entrance stands a statue of the architect, created by Béla Farkas in 1936. The central inner courtyard, which is covered by a glass roof, and the ticket hall in front of it almost appear like a fairy tale with their mixture of Indian and Moorish designs. The construction with its unclad steel supports, similar to the West Railway Station, was highly modern at the time. The exhibition on the ground flooraround the courtyard covers Hungarian domestic culture from the Biedermeier era up to the start of the 20th century (approx. 1850–1900). Furniture, craftwork, carpets and other interior design items are shown in individual rooms that each represent a specific historical style or fashion. On the first floor, in similar manner to the rooms on the ground floor, it is possible to get a realistic idea of domestic life from the classical to Biedermeier era (approx. 1800–1850). The dome hall and the east wing accommodate five further departments on the development of Hungarian arts and crafts

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