Krausz Palace

Renewing a heritage protected building and turning it into a modern office in one of the most prestigious areas of Budapest is not only a complex task but also a fascinating challenge. The neat, modern interior decorations of Krausz Palace highlight the original details, creating a peculiar turn of the century atmosphere.

Today Andrássy boulevard is protected by UNESCO as a part of world heritage, it was originally built in the second part of the 19th century as one of the biggest urban developments, with neoclassical palaces and magnificent trees on both sides, based on the design of Parisian boulevards. Krausz Palace was built by Lajos Krausz, director of Krausz-Mayer Malt Factory and Distillery Ltd., for his family. The building, completed in 1885, was designed by architect Zsigmond Quittner, whose most famous building is the spectacular Gresham Palace.

On the facade of this three floor building one can see sculpted figures representing such values like fidelity, love, agreement, strength, peace and labour. These, just like the statue of the inner courtyard titled “The Teasers” are works of the famous sculptors of the era: Gyula Donáth and József Róna. The inner courtyard facades murals were painted by Károly Lotz, the mosaics are the works of Luigi Depold. Around 1920 the palace hosted a coffee house called Magyar Korona Kávéház which was frequently visited by the most prestigious writers and poets of the time.

After the 2nd World War the building became property of the Budapest Police Headquarters. The severely neglected building was first renewed in the 1960s. In 2001 it became private property and was reconstructed again designed by Kőnig és Wagner Építészek Llt.

Our Studio was contracted to restore the protected building and create a class A office building with shops on the ground floor and rental office spaces on the floors. The building has some heritage protected areas like the entrance zone, the inner courtyard facade, the main staircase and the Krausz living quarters, these were important to keep intact. The new interior design elements, like the information desk and the light fixture designed is in the spectacular inner courtyard were trying not to interfere with the original grandiosity of the building. There are two lifts going up from the atrium, both placed in the existing shafts. The servicing areas and maintenance are on the basement level.