Szegő Dóra - Szegő György: Synagogues - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2004)

The Synagogue in Rumbach Sebestyén utca

While the Moorish style of the Rombach was identical to that of the Dohány utca synagogue, it was built in a form entirely different from the older temple. The octagonal layout was patterned on the Vienna synagogue in Seitenstetten- gasse (1828). The fact that the dtatm quo community was able to raise a synagogue of such proportions (with an interior diameter of 24,80 and a height of 28.15 metres) was mainly due to donations made in the form of pew booking by members of the community.

Construction work on the Rombach started in 1870, behind the Orczy House. Otto Wagner drew up the design in its outlines, leaving its conclusion to Bódog Buzzi. But an important task was left for Mór Kallina, too. It was on the advice of that successful architect, who had been involved in the development of And- rássy Avenue, that the iron structure carrying the roof was reviewed and rebuilt. What necessitated the overhaul was the fact that the basilica-style structure had been regarded as a cupola during construction; upon review, the edifice was found dangerous from a structural point of view and it was approved on condition that modifications be made. (Permission for the iron dome of the Paris Courtyard in Ferenciek tere was granted on similar conditions with the additional proviso of a resistance test.) A characteristic feature of the ground■ Cngraved scenographic drawing by Otto Wagner j)or the Rombach iynagogue, 1871

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