Gresham Palace
Encyclopedia
Gresham Palace or Gresham-palota, located in Budapest
, Hungary
, is an example of Art Nouveau
architecture in Central Europe
. Built during the early 1900s, it is now owned by an Irish company, Quinlan Private, and managed by Four Seasons Hotels
.
palace built during 1827. During 1880, the London
-based Gresham Life Assurance Company bought the property, at a time when it was illegal to invest money in stocks, but rental income was a wise investment. The company later decided to build its foreign headquarters on the site, and decided that they needed a grander setting for them. They commissioned local architect Zsigmond Quittner
to design the new structure, and during 1904, they began construction of the Gresham Palace, which was completed during 1906.
Originally, the palace served as an office building as well as a home for wealthy British aristocrats associated with the Gresham company. During World War II
, Soviet soldiers
resided in the extravagant palace. Eventually, it became decrepit and was used as an apartment building during the People's Republic of Hungary
. When democracy was restored, the national government presented the palace to the city of Budapest. During 2001, it was bought by the Four Seasons hotel company, and was activated soon after as a luxurious hotel. Original details restored by Quinlan Private include a large staircase, stained glass
, mosaics, ironwork
and wintergardens.
architecture, especially in the manner of the Vienna Secession
ists. Secessionists generally used relatively little ornament, and emphasized architectural form. The Gresham Palace exemplifies this style with its smooth façade that attracts attention mainly to the curved roofline, the bay windows and the pilasters along the front of the building. The palace also features beautiful ironwork, including two magnificent peacock sculptures at the gate of the courtyard, which are typical of Art Nouveau.
Budapest
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...
, Hungary
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...
, is an example of Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
architecture in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
. Built during the early 1900s, it is now owned by an Irish company, Quinlan Private, and managed by Four Seasons Hotels
Four Seasons Hotels
Four Seasons Hotels, Inc. is a Canadian-based international ultra-luxury, five-star hotel management company. Travel + Leisure magazine and Zagat Survey rank the hotel chain's 84 properties among the top luxury hotels worldwide...
.
History
The site was once occupied by Nako House, a neo-classicalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
palace built during 1827. During 1880, the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based Gresham Life Assurance Company bought the property, at a time when it was illegal to invest money in stocks, but rental income was a wise investment. The company later decided to build its foreign headquarters on the site, and decided that they needed a grander setting for them. They commissioned local architect Zsigmond Quittner
Zsigmond Quittner
Zsigmond Quittner was a Hungarian architect.-Career:Quittner was born in Pest in 1859. He studied for his degree in Munich and worked in Budapest from 1880. His style is eclectic, a commercial version of the Vienna Secession...
to design the new structure, and during 1904, they began construction of the Gresham Palace, which was completed during 1906.
Originally, the palace served as an office building as well as a home for wealthy British aristocrats associated with the Gresham company. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Soviet soldiers
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
resided in the extravagant palace. Eventually, it became decrepit and was used as an apartment building during the People's Republic of Hungary
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...
. When democracy was restored, the national government presented the palace to the city of Budapest. During 2001, it was bought by the Four Seasons hotel company, and was activated soon after as a luxurious hotel. Original details restored by Quinlan Private include a large staircase, stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
, mosaics, ironwork
Ironwork
Ironwork is any weapon, artwork, utensil or architectural feature made of iron especially used for decoration. There are two main types of ironwork wrought iron and cast iron. While the use of iron dates as far back as 4000BC, it was the Hittites who first knew how to extract it and develop weapons...
and wintergardens.
Design
Gresham Palace is a good example of Art NouveauArt Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
architecture, especially in the manner of the Vienna Secession
Vienna Secession
The Vienna Secession was formed in 1897 by a group of Austrian artists who had resigned from the Association of Austrian Artists, housed in the Vienna Künstlerhaus. This movement included painters, sculptors, and architects...
ists. Secessionists generally used relatively little ornament, and emphasized architectural form. The Gresham Palace exemplifies this style with its smooth façade that attracts attention mainly to the curved roofline, the bay windows and the pilasters along the front of the building. The palace also features beautiful ironwork, including two magnificent peacock sculptures at the gate of the courtyard, which are typical of Art Nouveau.