Gresham
Palace Hotel, Budapest, Hungary
Architect
|
Zsigmond Quittner, László Vágó and József Vágó
|
Date Built
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1906 - 1907
|
Location
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Széchenyi István
tér |
Description
|
This wonderful Art Nouveau building, located at
the Pest end of the Chain Bridge, was designed
in 1906 by the architectural practice of
Zsigmond Quittner, for the Gresham Insurance
Company.
During World War II the building was seriously
damaged and after the war, during the period of
occupation, it accommodated Soviet troops.
The building's decline continued when it was
transformed into an apartment block.
However, at the beginning of the 21st Century it
was sold to the Four Seasons Hotel company and
they commissioned the architectural practice of
B + H to transform it into a luxury hotel.
As part of this transformation the original Art
Nouveau features were restored to their former
glory. This included windows by Miksa Roth
.... ceramic
tiles by the Zsolnay Porcelain Company
.... and wonderful ironwork
from the workshop of Gyula Jungfer.
The Four Seasons website says that the hotel,
" ... combines historical elegance with
ultra-modern comforts ... (and) ...
gracefully combines vintage architecture
and design with modern services and
amenities. Of the Hotel’s 179
generously proportioned guest rooms,
including 19 suites with vaulted ceilings
and private step-out balconies, many offer
views of intimate interior courtyards, the
Old City or the sparkling Danube."
The restoration was designed by Patrick
Fejér. The B+H website says that, "He
oversaw the conversion of an Art Nouveau
Palace into a luxury hotel, which was
featured in Condé Nast Magazine and won Best
New Hotel in Europe. The project involved
reconstructing the old structure, a
three-storey underground parking garage, and
the addition of an upper guest room floor
and rooftop spa."
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