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

So-called Thonet House, female figure, sculpture

harmoniously balanced facade. The effect of these novel approaches and ideas is undeniable.

In turn-of-the-century architecture, the use of plaster is gradually superseded by that of brick, majolica and tile covering. Right next to the “Thonet house” we are drawn into the magic aura of the Philanthia flower shop (no. 9 Váci utca). The shop’s portal was designed by Lajos Kőrössy in 1906. On its light marble covering, embossed on brass plates, there are rose bushes, with their leaves and trailers meandering around the solid, ball-shaped flowers. Enhanced by the mirrors of the narrow side windows, the light of the portal makes the shop look like a jewel-box. As we enter through the nicely restored door with its brass handle-another fine work of Haas & Somogyi-this impression is reinforced. In the half-light of the shop there are paintings. The

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