Fabó Beáta - Gall, Anthony: I came from the East to a City of Great Palaces. Károly Kós, the early years 1907-1914 (Budapest, 2013)
Kós' First Steps as an Independent Architect
THE GIRAFFE HOUSE DESTROYED AND RECONTRUCTED Of the pavilions designed by Kós and Zrumeczky reminiscent of the architecture of distant exotic cultures, the Giraffe House stands out as the most significant. Here the two architects recognised the structural and tectonic possibilities offered by African architecture. The Giraffe House was considered a progressive and bold move at the time of its construction and the design is reminiscent of the designs made by István Medgyaszay for the studios of the artists of the Gödöllő Artists' Community. The building is a composition of flat-roofed blocks, a principle revisited by Kós in 1930, when making the designs for the Art Gallery of Kolozsvár/Cluj. The exterior surface was artistically refined due to the decoration of the main elevation and the jutting, elaborate eaves. The building was partly demolished as a result of war damage, and eventually a new building was made on the base of the original. In 2010, however, the altered parts were removed and surviving structures were brought to the surface and the whole building reconstructed using the original designs. ill Main facade Magyar Építőművészet, 1912.11-12. A. Pál Veres ■ Main facade, 2012 László Alapfy HI View from the east, 1912 Magyar Építőművészet, 1912.11-12. A. Pál Veres ■ View from the east 2013 László Alapfy H Right: Main elevation BFL XV.17.d.328 KT szor 1/90-4 H Right LL Main entrance László Haris 128 H Right LR: Section BFL XV.17.d.328 KT szor 1/90-8
