Kiss Katalin: Industrial Monuments - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1993)
Between 1780 and 1782 a seven-storey special filature was set up here by Italian masters, on the basis of Pál Fachini’s plans, which imitated the silk spinning factory in Lucca. A filature is a silk spinning factory and a silk mill in one, where the thread necessary for silk weaving is produced. The Óbuda filature was built settled near a stream, for the spools were driven by water power. However, the little stream could hardly set in motion the machine inaugurated in the presence of the Emperor, thus the construction of coffer-dams was ordered. The enormous building of the filature no longer exists, but its memory is conserved by the name of “Filatori-gát” (“Filature Dam”). The still existing deglomeratorium, as the silk winding plant was called in Latin, started to work in 1785. The winding of the silk fibres was based on a new machine invented by the Venetian expert Ágoston Mazzucato. The building was planned by József Tallherr, on the basis of the sketches and instructions of Mazzucato. Forty cauldrons were installed on the ground floor, and several tonnes of cocoons were stored on the first floor. In the silk mill school, founded by the Venetian specialist, forty young workers from all over the country learnt the process of winding. These famous buildings functioned until the beginning of the 19th century. The filature was later demolished, and the silk winding building was transformed into a dwelling house. The internal work rooms were divided by walls, and an outside gallery was built to lead to the flats. Several windows and doors were bricked up, and one of the two stairways was pulled down. The neglected and defaced building was restored in 1955-56, on the basis of the fortunately still existing original plans. Later, with the demolition of the neighbouring buildings, which preceded the construction of the present-day blocks, it probably survived because of its good conditions and peculiar shape. The well-proportioned two-storey building with oval ground plan has 24 windows with simple stone framing. A two flight outside stairway on the building’s shorter side leads to the first floor, giving an attractive atmosphere to the Late Baroque facade. The stair also leads to the gatehouse with an arched gable. From here a 16
