Emil Vidor, the architect

This book fills a gap and introduces an important creator of Hungarian architecture between the turn of the century and the two world wars, a versatile creator of more than a hundred works and a master of many architectural languages. In reviewing Vidor's oeuvre, we also gain an insight into the socio-economic world of the era. A rich life is revealed to us, of which design work formed a significant, but not exclusive, part, as Emil Vidor was one of the most educated creators of the era, a citoyen who knew languages, saw the world, practiced the arts and supported the arts. The rise and fall of ideas, styles, and fashions, the fierce struggle between conservative and modern approaches, defined the era in which he created. And we can see the result on our streets and squares - what remains of it. Vidor remained an architect in search of something new almost throughout his life. He was influenced by the academicism he learned from his masters, the Hungarian folk form, the tradition of Arts and Crafts, the idea of ​​Gesamtkunstwerk and the ever-present progression from Art Nouveau to modern movements, the architecture of Western Europe and Scandinavia. He is the master of the Hungarian Art Nouveau House, the Palatine Houses, several villas on the City Park Avenue, but he also left his mark in the Strawberry Park, Buda and on the shores of Lake Balaton. His industrial architectural opuses realized in the area of ​​Kőbánya deserve special mention. In addition to the professional achievements, the private life of the Vidor family is also brought to life in the book. The figures of Ferenc Erkel, Leó Szilárd, György Faludy, Ede Teller, György Lukács, Lujza Blaha, Margit Dayka and Sigmund Freud appear for a moment. In addition to the diverse network of connections, there is quite a lot of talk about music, beer, swordplay, and even linguistics. The volume is illustrated with nearly 300 pictures, including architectural plans, former, destroyed houses, archive photos of building interiors, and works that still define the image of Budapest today. A pictorial presentation of the prototypes of Vidor's works and the decorative elements used is also included in Tibor Gottdank's book.