Armuth Miklós - Lőrinczi Zsuzsa (szerk.): A Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem Történeti Campusa (Budapest, 2023)

A Központi épület - The Central Building Zsembery Ákos

Originally it was only the northern wing of the building where the third storey was added. Here, underneath a skylight R-C roof structure, a graphic laboratory, a printing press, a darkroom, a collection room, staff rooms and drawing rooms were contained. The rest of the level above the second storey was an unoccupied loft. The three main stairwells were constructed up to the attic level with the potential to develop at a later date. With his designs of the facade and the interiors Hauszmann wished to express the educational function of the building, whilst also expressing the ambition to realise a building which is "...a memorial-style work worthily documenting the advanced level

of contemporary architectural art in Hungary". The tight budget, however, restricted these ambitions not only affecting the memorial-style, but also the use of high-quality materials. Compared to what the original building permit drawings show, simplifications were made during the construction stage on several occasions. However, the generous spatial organisation remained intact. The most important change affecting the exterior appearance of the building was that the corner turrets of the central projection were not built with a stone structure, but a timber one. The architect avoided plasterwork on the facades and preferred carved stone, pyrogranite and dry-pressed bricks with colourful glazed inserts.

The artist of the main projection with an imposing carved stone cladding was sculptor Antal Szabó. The foyer opened up with a triple doorway to the two-level Assembly Hall facing the Danube. The cornice is supported by six Corinthian columns, the attic wall between the corner turrets features pyrogranite obelisks instead of the sculptures of the original plans - however, they are not found any more. Brickwork besides stone cladding is only visible on the retracted facade of the Assembly Hall.

The other facades of the building are unanimously clad in brick. The perimeter sill moulding at the first storey created a plinth comprising the lower ground floor and the ground floor height. Integrating the two upper levels, the decoration evoking giant order pilasters to articulate the facade was raised. The corner projections echo the articulation of the central projection: however, it is genuine giant order pilasters with relieflike capitals in the lane beneath the cornice made of pyrogranite resembling drab stone quarried in Sóskút. In-between inserts were also made with pyrogranite supplied by the Budapest-based Zsolnay Porcelain and Fayence Manufactory. The parapets around

A MEGVALÓSULT NYUGATI HOMLOKZAT S A R 0 K R I Z A LIT J A, KIVITELI TERV, 1908

CORNER PROJECTION OF THE REALISED WESTERN FACADE. WORKING DRAWING, 1908