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
B The Castle Ruins and surroundings, after 1912 FÁNK fotógyűjtemény The reception of the Zoo by the public Dénes Györgyi, classmate of Kós and Zrumeczky at the university, wrote the following about the buildings of the zoo: A new atmosphere has been brought by this handful of zoo buildings which have appeared amongst the stone mass [of Budapest]. It is an atmosphere similar to that we have seen somewhere in the mountains in small, leafy villages where Hungarians live. This atmosphere, fresh, refined and distilled, captures us anew. The splendid surroundings, the perspective of the pathways, the artistic positioning of the buildings and the artistic and constructional prowess visible in so many other little details all add up, resulting in a zoo in Budapest, which is not only good and beautiful, but most suitable to serve its purpose as well’Mi 19,1 a-12-1~44-A new type of architectural experience was presented to the public: an architecture human in scale, created in harmony with the environment and developing pre-existent models from vernacular culture. Clearly, the overtness of the ‘cultural’ role within a more determined search for a ‘National Style’ set the Zoo apart from previous attempts to transport the country to Budapest, especially the reconstructions of villages in the City Park for the Millenium celebrations of 1896. H Entrance to the Palm House FÁNK fotógyűjtemény The fate of the zoo in subsequent years The zoo underwent some minor alterations and developments during the 1930s. The Crocodile House was demolished. Kós once again participated in the planning of the extension and reconstruction of the Monkey House. Because of substantial damage suffered during World War Two, many of the buildings were demolished (such as the Bison House and the Ostrich House). In the 1960s extensive reconstruction works took place and new buildings were built (new Buffalo House, new Camel House, new Giraffe house). The 1980's saw new plans of an extensive reconstruction project emerge, including plans for a new Kangaroo House, a new Monkey (Gorilla) House and relocation of the Deer House. In 1997 a full-scale reconstruction project was launched, which involved the renovation of all the buildings, the Farmyard, the Norwegian House as well as the rebuilding of the Buffalo House, the Crocodile House and the Giraffe House according to the original plans. The Budapest Zoo is and has always been a living and lived-in environment, which remains exotic while serving very practical purposes. The Lake with the Palm House and the Crocodile House László Alapfy 90 I The ruined Deer House FÁNK fotógyűjtemény The new Bison House in the 1970's FÁNK fotógyűjtemény
