F. Mentényi Klára szerk.: Műemlékvédelmi Szemle 1995/1-2. szám Az Országos Műemléki Felügyelőség tájékoztatója (Budapest, 1995)

KIÁLLÍTÁS - Szalai András: Rimanóczy Gyula és Weichinger Károly emlékkiállítása

András SZÁLAI GYULA RIMANÓCZY AND KÁROLY WEICHINGER An the autumn of last year another important exhibition was opened in the Architectural Museum of the Inspectorate of Historic Monuments. Their exhibitions showing the different periods of Hungarian architecture are always interesting events, unfortunately rather for a limited public of experts. Even more important are those exhibitions showing the history of 20th century Hungarian architecture, as our architectural recent past is in many respects an unknown period of our architectural history. This exhibition showing the work of two outstanding mid-twentieth century Hungarian architects is a long-needed event. The exhibition shows the parallel career of two architects working at the same time: Gyula Rimanóczy and Károly Weichinger. The two careers are connected first of all by this parallelism and the age, having the same influence on the work of them. Both started their career as architects in the second half of twenties and worked during different stylistic periods: the year of Rimanóczy's early death is when „socialist realism" was ended, the date of Weichinger's death is in the time of the appearance of postmodern in Hungary. The relatively short but creative career of Gyula Rimanóczy (1903-1953) is shown with plans, photos of buildings, and the documents of the catalogue. We can follow a typical career of a mid 20th century Hungarian architect. Beginning at a master, having an office of his own, important works, and becoming an official of a socialist planning office, where «production" was necessary, sometimes resulting architectural works also. Rimanóczy's plans are reflecting the changes of history, but their architectural quality is inevitable. The plans and buildings are examples of a high level of professional „ethos" not changed by time and historical-political changes. They also give a good example for us, how to preserve good conscience. The quality of his work and his talent are the most important. Károly Weichinger's (1893-1982) career is documented in the exhibition mainly concerning its period between the two World Wars, completed with a few plans from the fifties. The reason of this is that plans in the collection of the Architectural Museum are not from the whole career. However, it can be seen through the memories of the catalogue and the autobiography. This career is less typical, but rich and influential. His influence is felt the best through his activity following the second World War as professor, helping the beginning of several architects in the sixties. The spirit of his earlier plans is continued indirectly by us.