Traditional Hungarian houses would give us a calmer life?
Can you imagine a plastic-free home? In traditional Hungarian houses, there was no plastic. The decoration was more minimalistic and life seemed calmer in such an environment.
As egy.hu reported, traditional Hungarian homes have a calm and uncomplicated atmosphere that is charming to many people. Nowadays, we may feel that something is missing. So how is this magic created?
Closeness to nature
By looking inside old Hungarian farmhouses, it feels as if you were still in nature. The outside and the inside seem to have not been marginalised. The walls do not close off one world or delimit another. They just connect the two worlds in a sound harmony. The sown beds of a kiln-roofed house are like bird nests resting on a tree branch. You just know that whoever lives in this home loves nature and considers it home as well. One cherishes the outside world as much as the insides of one’s home. Egy.hu describes:
When the human eye glances over the mud-plastered, whitewashed interior walls, or the huge “Blessed Virgin” tree, the pillar supporting the master beam, carved straight with an axe, or the harmonious colours and patterns of the weavings and embroideries, it suddenly feels like a complete sense of security.
This is a loving environment where nothing can go wrong. The world that many times feels evil and overwhelming becomes beautiful and harmonic.
Never alone
Our ancestors never experienced the loneliness of modern man. Who has animals is never alone, right? Traditional Hungarian houses were not only surrounded by pets like cats and dogs but birds and wild animals as well. Among the lush bushes and trees, the wild animals were living their lives in complete harmony with humankind. The unwritten agreement between animals and man symbolises loyalty, love and fidelity. These values are the basis of harmony.
The magic of the traditional Hungarian houses
Nowadays, we all have practical devices that save us effort and time on a daily basis. However, we may wonder if it’s really worth it. We don’t have more happiness in our lives by using these devices. Our ancestors were perfectly content without them. By using these modern devices, we lose touch with nature. Our homes may be comfortable, secure and harmonic, but nothing compares to traditional Hungarian houses. The magic lies in the simplicity that cannot be recreated in today’s artificially minimalistic homes. We rely on many service providers to secure our sense of comfort. People have lost connection with their houses too. The fact that we buy mass-produced furniture and not hand-made pieces takes away the magic. The human effort in creating the furniture and devices would ensure a special bond between the users and the objects back in the days. If you feel a void in your life, you might want to seek this traditional connection.
It is true what is written in this article. I am one of the blessed people who experienced this. Everything in historical Hungarian houses is hand made, and you can do all the maintenance yourself, which gives an extra connection to the house. All basic materials (mud, straw, linseed oil, whitewash, linseed oil paint etc) are cheap and easy to work with. Also, specialists give (cheap) courses and there are online groups.to help.
In the summer these houses are cooler and in the winter warmer than modern houses, because of the mud walls and ceilings. Like in a cave. The materials are breathing and create the perfect humidity inside. Perfect for people who are sensitive to chemicals and fungus.
Is it TRUE, that the Orban Government, its never ending CASH line – provision of funding – will provide funding to those of us, who apply and need funding, that wish to build a Traditional Hungarian House ???
Are there “Mates” of the Prime Minister, who would be the Lenders?
There would have to be – in the “inner sanctum” of the Fidesz Party – Lenders for such a TRADITIONAL cause.
Maybe the Son-in-Law of the Prime Minister – would be interested to be a Lender ???
How would those houses stand up to hurricane or tornado? Now places that never had them are getting them, and getting them frequently. Is there lots of rebar in those outer walls? I would LOVE to own an old Hoosier cabinet such as my aunt had in her kitchen. A soft pale green with textured glass in small doors for 2 of the upper spaces. As people start to collect way too many small appliances, the need for large amounts of closed cupboards is needed. As some of those appliances are now needed every single day (coffee, blender, toaster, electric can opener, some electronics…) long counters are needed more for display than work surfaces. So kitchens had to change. Then bathrooms because not only is total privacy required by each person since most acts in there are disgusting to witness or smell. And also because it is often a safe room with a good locking solid door.
And so it goes…life requires that both adults now work fulltime and at least 60 hrs per week to get ahead. 90 a week to become a great lawyer, musician, athlete, surgeon etc. 40 just gives the very basics now. (120 a week has given us electric cars and so much more thanks to Elon.) With such changes to work away from home, off the land, lots are not as large, houses must be several stories. Maybe the old materials have restrictions. I love the bungalows or ranch-style houses of my childhood not far from Miskolc.
Never thought about the houses this way, but it is true (but no longer with the internet poles, solar panels and so on). The house breathes and needs to breathe.
This a nice article, more of an ode for a (once beloved) home.
Odd that someone would ask how these houses would stand up to a hurricane or tornado. If a tornado were to hit Hungary, it would mean the sea had reached our land-locked nation, which means nothing would survive. As for hurricanes: pretty rare, and I’ve never heard of hurricane damage in Hungary. But then again, she asks if there is ‘rebar’ in a traditional house, so ….
Benefits of traditional Hungarian building is that they require no air conditioning in the summer, and are easy to heat in the winter.