Földes Mária: Ornamentation - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1993)

Parisian Arcade, entrance hall

which attraction he tried to convey through his own buildings (reflected in the outer and, especially, interior design of the CJránia Cinema in Rákóczi út).

Henrik Schmahl won the contract to design the building for the Savings Bank by competition. The invitation for tenders stipulated that a serious facade without any balconies or turrets, one fitting the function of the building, should be designed. The stately appearance of the building, suggestive of the late Middle Ages, meets these specifications. The unique beauty of the building, whose facade overlooking Petőfi Sándor utca is equally impressive, is to be found in its details. One can contemplate the varied and interesting execution for hours on end. The copper architecture above the wooden fronts and shop-level windows is loosened by the floral ornamentation of coloured glass-mosaics. A large portion of the facade is covered with glazed brick and majolica facing. The mouldings framing the windows were also

11