PHOTOS: Grotesque decorations placed on Buda Castle’s iconic building

Grotesque decorations were placed on the magnificent dome of the Headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross in Buda Castle.

Grotesque ornaments decorate this Buda Castle building

According to the official Facebook page of the National Hauszmann Programme, putting the grotesque masks back to their original places this week was the final phase of rebuilding the headquarters’ roof. Four ornaments decorate the dome structure from the outside, and each was created from 32 Rheinzink plates squeezed. It might sound incredible, but it took six months to produce one 140 cm wide and 170 cm high ornament.

Recreating these unique tin plates required exceptional accuracy since they had to fit perfectly with the dome structure. Furthermore, it was a challenge that nobody had a detailed plan for the original decoration masks. But an old photo helped the designers. Using that, they could recreate all four elements in their original beauty.

Photo: FB/National Hauszmann Programme

Grotesque ornaments were popular in ancient cultures. They aimed to scare evil spirits and non-desired guests. Therefore, such structures were placed on the building facades. The Renaissance and the Historic styles used these kinds of decorations again but without the original meaning, only due to their aesthetics.

Photo: FB/National Hauszmann Programme

Soviet siege damaged the original building

The Headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross’ designers were Alajos Hauszmann and his son-in-law, Dezső Hültl. The magnificent building was damaged during the brutal Soviet siege of Budapest between December 1944 and February 1945. Only a few people know that the siege was the third biggest after Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) and Stalingrad (Volgograd) in WWII and destroyed the original lookout of the Hungarian capital.

Fortepan

Originally, Budapest was much more decorated, but the Soviet-imposed Communist leadership did not spend money to reestablish the bridges, buildings, and streets to their original form. Instead, they used cheaper materials. For example, they rebuilt the Buda Castle. However, the recreation followed a minimalist style compared to the richly-decorated original.

The destroyed Buda Castle in February 1945. Photo: Fortepan

Original exterior, modern interior

The Headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross had an even more tragic story. Despite the damages it suffered from the Soviet and American bombs, it could have been preserved. However, the political leadership dominated by the Communists decided to dismantle it.

Photo: FB/National Hauszmann Programme

The new headquarters building will serve as an office building. It will appear as the original, but inside (interior design, engineering), it will have the latest solution. The exterior will be ready this year.

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