Frigyes Schulek
Encyclopedia
Frigyes Schulek was a Hungarian architect, a professor at József Technical University
and a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
(Magyar Tudományos Akadémia).
; the cities later merged. His mother was Auguszta Zsigmondy
.His father Ágost Schulek held a position in the Finance Ministry of Lajos Kossuth
. The Schulek family accompanied Kossuth's government on its flight to Debrecen
during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
, then returned to the capital. After the suppression of the struggle for independence, Ágost Schulek was declared persona non grata, and the family returned to Debrecen.
Graduating in 1857, Frigyes Schulek enrolled in the Buda Polytechnic (József Technical University), from which he received his diploma in 1861. Thereafter he attended the Academy of Fine Arts
(Akademie der bildenden Künste) in Vienna
.
He became a member of the "Wiener Bauhütte" where he studied under Friedrich von Schmidt
, who profoundly influenced his later interest in Middle Ages
architecture.
In 1866 he briefly worked on the restoration of the Regensburg Cathedral
, subsequently visiting France and Italy.
From 1871 he taught architectural drawing at the Budapest Art School, where, as a colleague of Imre Steindl
, he helped design Pest's City Hall. In 1872 he was appointed architect of the newly founded Provisional Monuments Commission (Műemlékek Országos Bizottság), later known as the National Monuments Commission, the first such independent Hungarian organization. Here he coordinated the reconstruction and restoration of mediæval castles and churches.
in 1309 and is today known as the Matthias Church
, after King Matthias, who added side chapels and an oratory in 1470.
In the course of planning the reconstruction, he did a thorough field survey of the Gothic church to expose the varying original elements of the building to learn how it had been built, rebuilt and enlarged over time. Originally built in an early French Gothic style, it had been destroyed by fire in 1526, then reopened as a mosque
in 1541. After the Ottoman
period and its 1586 reconversion to a church, the Franciscans and, later, the Jesuits maintained the edifice. Rather than choosing a particular historic period to interpret while conserving evidence of its earlier and later appearance, as is modern practice, Schulek practically constructed the church anew, without preserving the various historic interventions, and had nearly every stone replaced or recarved. On the west façade and the spire, where he could find no documentary evidence to assist him, he detailed his own new designs, to the point that the building as it stands today is almost entirely his creation.
) and churches at Ákos (now Acâş
in Romania
), Karcsa and Pozsony (now Bratislava, Slovakia
).
Of the few buildings Schulek designed himself, most are in the Neo-Romanesque
style. These include the Calvinist Reformed Church
(1880–83) in Szeged and the hilltop lookout tower (1908–10) at János-hegy, Budapest. Between 1895 and 1903 Schulek designed corridors, terraces and towers to connect still-extant portions of the hill fortress behind Matthias Church. Known as the Fisherman's Bastion
(Halászbástya), the viewpoint has become a city landmark.
His 1909 design for the Votive Church of Szeged
(Fogadalmi templom), a twin-spired structure with red-brick façades and white stone trim, was modified by Ernő Foerk
, and construction was completed by 1930.
's death, Schulek was appointed professor of medieval architecture at the Technical University of Budapest
, a post he held until 1913. He became a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1895 and was made an honorary member in 1917.
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics , in hungarian abbreviated as BME, English official abbreviation BUTE, is the most significant University of Technology in Hungary and is also one of the oldest Institutes of Technology in the world, having been founded in 1782.-History:BME is...
and a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the most important and prestigious learned society of Hungary. Its seat is at the bank of the Danube in Budapest.-History:...
(Magyar Tudományos Akadémia).
Education
Schulek was born in Pest and began school in BudaBuda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
; the cities later merged. His mother was Auguszta Zsigmondy
Zsigmondy
Zsigmondy is a Hungarian surname, and a famous Hungarian-Austrian family, may refer to:** Adolf Zsigmondy , a Hungarian-Austrian dentist, who first described Zsigmondy's dental notation in 1861; Zsigmondy-cross was named after him∞ Irma von Szakmáry, poetess*** Ottó Zsigmondy, , Austrian...
.His father Ágost Schulek held a position in the Finance Ministry of Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.-Family:Lajos...
. The Schulek family accompanied Kossuth's government on its flight to Debrecen
Debrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
, then returned to the capital. After the suppression of the struggle for independence, Ágost Schulek was declared persona non grata, and the family returned to Debrecen.
Graduating in 1857, Frigyes Schulek enrolled in the Buda Polytechnic (József Technical University), from which he received his diploma in 1861. Thereafter he attended the Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, Austria.- History :The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna was founded in 1692 as a private academy by the court-painter Peter Strudl, who became the Praefectus Academiae Nostrae. In 1701 he was ennobled as Baron of the Empire...
(Akademie der bildenden Künste) in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
He became a member of the "Wiener Bauhütte" where he studied under Friedrich von Schmidt
Friedrich von Schmidt
Friedrich von Schmidt was an architect who worked in late 19th century Vienna....
, who profoundly influenced his later interest in Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
architecture.
In 1866 he briefly worked on the restoration of the Regensburg Cathedral
Regensburg Cathedral
The Regensburg Cathedral , dedicated to St Peter, is the most important church and landmark of the city Regensburg, Germany. It is the seat of the Catholic diocese of Regensburg...
, subsequently visiting France and Italy.
From 1871 he taught architectural drawing at the Budapest Art School, where, as a colleague of Imre Steindl
Imre Steindl
Imre Steindl was a Hungarian architect.- Biography :He graduated at the Technical University of Budapest and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. He was a teacher of the Budapest Technical University from 1869...
, he helped design Pest's City Hall. In 1872 he was appointed architect of the newly founded Provisional Monuments Commission (Műemlékek Országos Bizottság), later known as the National Monuments Commission, the first such independent Hungarian organization. Here he coordinated the reconstruction and restoration of mediæval castles and churches.
Matthias church (Mátyás Templom)
Between 1874 and 1896 Schulek rebuilt the Church of Our Lady in Buda Castle, which is generally regarded as his chief work. Dating to 1247, the edifice was used for coronations from the crowning of Charles ICharles I of Hungary
Charles I , also known as Charles Robert , was the first King of Hungary and Croatia of the House of Anjou. He was also descended from the old Hungarian Árpád dynasty. His claim to the throne of Hungary was contested by several pretenders...
in 1309 and is today known as the Matthias Church
Matthias Church
Matthias Church is a church located in Budapest, Hungary, at the heart of Buda's Castle District. According to church tradition, it was originally built in Romanesque style in 1015. The current building was constructed in the florid late Gothic style in the second half of the 14th century and was...
, after King Matthias, who added side chapels and an oratory in 1470.
In the course of planning the reconstruction, he did a thorough field survey of the Gothic church to expose the varying original elements of the building to learn how it had been built, rebuilt and enlarged over time. Originally built in an early French Gothic style, it had been destroyed by fire in 1526, then reopened as a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in 1541. After the Ottoman
Ottoman Hungary
History of Ottoman Hungary refers to the history of parts of the Ottoman Empire situated in what today is Hungary, in the period from 1541 to 1699.-History:...
period and its 1586 reconversion to a church, the Franciscans and, later, the Jesuits maintained the edifice. Rather than choosing a particular historic period to interpret while conserving evidence of its earlier and later appearance, as is modern practice, Schulek practically constructed the church anew, without preserving the various historic interventions, and had nearly every stone replaced or recarved. On the west façade and the spire, where he could find no documentary evidence to assist him, he detailed his own new designs, to the point that the building as it stands today is almost entirely his creation.
Architectural designs
His other restorations include the town hall of Lőcse (now Levoča, SlovakiaLevoca
Levoča is a town in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia with a population of 14,600. The town has a historic center with a well preserved town wall, a Renaissance church with the highest wooden altar in Europe, carved by Master Paul of Levoča, and many other Renaissance buildings.On 28 June 2009,...
) and churches at Ákos (now Acâş
Acas
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is a Crown non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom. Its purpose is to improve organisations and working life through the promotion and facilitation of strong industrial relations practice...
in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
), Karcsa and Pozsony (now Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
).
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style. These include the Calvinist Reformed Church
Reformed Church in Hungary
The Reformed Church in Hungary is a key representative of Christianity in Hungary, being numerically the second-largest denomination in Hungary after the Roman Catholic Church, and the biggest denomination among ethnic Hungarians in Romania...
(1880–83) in Szeged and the hilltop lookout tower (1908–10) at János-hegy, Budapest. Between 1895 and 1903 Schulek designed corridors, terraces and towers to connect still-extant portions of the hill fortress behind Matthias Church. Known as the Fisherman's Bastion
Fisherman's Bastion
The Halászbástya or Fisherman's Bastion is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on the Castle hill in Budapest, around Matthias Church. It was designed and built between 1895 and 1902 on the plans of Frigyes Schulek...
(Halászbástya), the viewpoint has become a city landmark.
His 1909 design for the Votive Church of Szeged
Votive Church of Szeged
The Votive Church of Our Lady of Hungary is a twin-spired church in Szeged, it lies on Dóm square. Construction began in 1913, but due to the outbreak of the First World War, it was not completed until 1930.-Statistics:...
(Fogadalmi templom), a twin-spired structure with red-brick façades and white stone trim, was modified by Ernő Foerk
Erno Foerk
Ernő Foerk was a Hungarian architect.-Life:Foerk originally began as a sculptor but subsequently finished as a master builder. He studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, where he familiarised himself with the North Italian style, and this was the origin of his interest in Lombardian brick...
, and construction was completed by 1930.
Professorship
In 1903, following Imre SteindlImre Steindl
Imre Steindl was a Hungarian architect.- Biography :He graduated at the Technical University of Budapest and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. He was a teacher of the Budapest Technical University from 1869...
's death, Schulek was appointed professor of medieval architecture at the Technical University of Budapest
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics , in hungarian abbreviated as BME, English official abbreviation BUTE, is the most significant University of Technology in Hungary and is also one of the oldest Institutes of Technology in the world, having been founded in 1782.-History:BME is...
, a post he held until 1913. He became a corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1895 and was made an honorary member in 1917.