Dénes Györgyi
Encyclopedia
Dénes Györgyi was a Hungarian
architect, a member of the Györgyi-Giergl artistic family.
into a well known clan of artists which stretched back generations. On his father's side, his great grandfather, Alajos Giergl (1793–1868) was a silversmith who originated from the Tyrol
and his grandfather, Alajos Györgyi Giergl (1821–1863), was a well known painter in Pest
. His father, Kálmán Györgyi (1860–1930) was a craftsman and art theorist, the director of the National Society of Applied Arts and editor of its journal. Two other close relatives, Géza Gyorgyi (1851–1934) and Kálmán Giergl
(1863–1934) were well known architects. The latter built the Music Academy and Klotild Palaces in Pest. Also notable in the clan was Henrik Giergl (1827–1871), a glass artist and trader.
, where he met his slightly older contemporary Károly Kós
. Together they formed a unique partnership and, most significantly, they built the Városmajor Street school in Budapest.
On his own, Györgyi designed the Hangya Associated Office building (1920) and many other schools and public buildings in regional cities, for example the Copf-style Deri Museum in Debrecen
. He also designed numerous pavilions for world fairs: Barcelona
(1929), the Brussels International Exposition (1935)
, and the Paris
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
(1937). He designed the Electricity Works at Budapest's Székesfőváros (1926–1938), which incorporated art deco
and modernist elements.
In 1945, Györgyi lost his only son and his last work was to be competed 3 years later, a primary school at Balatonalmádi
where he lived his final years. He briefly became involved in the Hungarian People's Republic
offices of State Planning
during the 1950s, but illness prevented this from continuing. Györgyi died in Balatonalmádi. His collaborator Kós considered him "One of the outstanding architects in Hungary of that sorrowful and dark period between the wars".
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
architect, a member of the Györgyi-Giergl artistic family.
Family background
Gyorgyi was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
into a well known clan of artists which stretched back generations. On his father's side, his great grandfather, Alajos Giergl (1793–1868) was a silversmith who originated from the Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
and his grandfather, Alajos Györgyi Giergl (1821–1863), was a well known painter in Pest
Pest (city)
Pest is the eastern, mostly flat part of Budapest, Hungary, comprising about two thirds of the city's territory. It is divided from Buda, the other part of Budapest, by the Danube River. Among its most notable parts are the Inner City, including the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes' Square and...
. His father, Kálmán Györgyi (1860–1930) was a craftsman and art theorist, the director of the National Society of Applied Arts and editor of its journal. Two other close relatives, Géza Gyorgyi (1851–1934) and Kálmán Giergl
Kálmán Giergl
Kálmán Giergl , a significant figure in Hungarian eclectic architectural style. A member of the Györgyi-Giergl artistic family.- Family background :...
(1863–1934) were well known architects. The latter built the Music Academy and Klotild Palaces in Pest. Also notable in the clan was Henrik Giergl (1827–1871), a glass artist and trader.
Career
Gyorgyi began studying architecture at the Budapest Joseph Technical UniversityBudapest University of Technology and Economics
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics , in hungarian abbreviated as BME, English official abbreviation BUTE, is the most significant University of Technology in Hungary and is also one of the oldest Institutes of Technology in the world, having been founded in 1782.-History:BME is...
, where he met his slightly older contemporary Károly Kós
Károly Kós
Károly Kós was a Hungarian architect, writer, illustrator, ethnologist and politician of Austria-Hungary and Romania.- Biography :...
. Together they formed a unique partnership and, most significantly, they built the Városmajor Street school in Budapest.
On his own, Györgyi designed the Hangya Associated Office building (1920) and many other schools and public buildings in regional cities, for example the Copf-style Deri Museum in Debrecen
Debrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
. He also designed numerous pavilions for world fairs: Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
(1929), the Brussels International Exposition (1935)
Brussels International Exposition (1935)
The Brussels International Exposition of 1935 was held in Heysel Park, Brussels, Belgium from April 27 through November 6, 1935....
, and the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)
The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France...
(1937). He designed the Electricity Works at Budapest's Székesfőváros (1926–1938), which incorporated art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
and modernist elements.
In 1945, Györgyi lost his only son and his last work was to be competed 3 years later, a primary school at Balatonalmádi
Balatonalmádi
Balatonalmádi, a town of 8,500 inhabitants, is a popular resort town near the northeast corner of Lake Balaton, in Hungary.- History :The town developed from four, previously separated villages, which were united by combining Balatonalmádi and Káptalanfüred in 1952, and Balatonalmádi and...
where he lived his final years. He briefly became involved in the Hungarian People's Republic
People's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
offices of State Planning
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
during the 1950s, but illness prevented this from continuing. Györgyi died in Balatonalmádi. His collaborator Kós considered him "One of the outstanding architects in Hungary of that sorrowful and dark period between the wars".
Buildings
- 1910-1920
- Hungarian pavilion at the World Fair in TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, with Emil Tory and Móric Pogány - Városmajor Street primary school, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, with Károly KósKároly KósKároly Kós was a Hungarian architect, writer, illustrator, ethnologist and politician of Austria-Hungary and Romania.- Biography :... - Part of the Wekerle housing estate (buildings on the main square), KispestKispestKispest is the 19th district of Budapest, Hungary. It lies to the south-southeast of the historical Pest city. It was founded in 1871 on rural land as a small village beside the city limits of Budapest, so it was named Kispest . From 1880 to 1990 Kispest's population increased from 1820 to...
- Hangya office building (the present-day MOL Group's building), Közraktár Street 30, Budapest
- Hungarian pavilion at the World Fair in Turin
- 1920-1930
- Balaton Museum, KeszthelyKeszthelyKeszthely is a Hungarian city of 21,100 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Balaton. It's the second largest city by the lake after Siófok....
- Deri Museum, DebrecenDebrecenDebrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
- Hungarian pavilion at the Exhibition in Philadelphia
- ELMU apartments on Honvéd Street, Budapest
- Hungarian pavilion at the World Fair in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
- Balaton Museum, Keszthely
- 1930-1940
- Hungary Room, Pittsburgh
- Apartments on Orom Street, Budapest
- Houses on St János Square; Nyary Pal Street 10, Budapest
- Hungarian pavilion at the World Fair in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
- Office building of the Danuvia factory, Budapest
- Hungarian pavilion at the ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie ModerneExposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne (1937)The Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne was held from May 25 to November 25, 1937 in Paris, France... - ELMU buildings on Attila Street, Budapest
- 1940-1950
- Primary school on Tomcsányi Street, Budapest
- Primary school, BalatonalmádiBalatonalmádiBalatonalmádi, a town of 8,500 inhabitants, is a popular resort town near the northeast corner of Lake Balaton, in Hungary.- History :The town developed from four, previously separated villages, which were united by combining Balatonalmádi and Káptalanfüred in 1952, and Balatonalmádi and...