Five stars and sumptuous comfort, exceptional architecture and premium interior design – that’s the Hotel Párisi Udvar (“Paris Court”) in the heart of Budapest. Over a period of five years, the Art Nouveau style hotel and linked passageway have been completely renovated and restored. The result is stunningly beautiful and unique in Europe: Art Nouveau, Neo-Gothic and Moorish elements come together to create an architectural work of art crowned by a glass dome.
The original Párisi Udvar was constructed in Budapest 100 years ago as a department store. At the end of the 19th century, the building fell victim to the city’s development. From 1909, the site was occupied by the City Savings Bank – in a development by the Hamburg architect Henrik Schmahl (1846–1912). Only the best was good enough: the prestigious architecture was complemented by decorative floor tiles which Schmahl purchased specially from Villeroy&Boch in the Saarland. The building later served as an office for the state travel company and then as an ice cream parlour, before the once magnificent arcade was finally closed.
The only use for the spectacular building complex was as a filming location. The 2011 spy thriller “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” features the Paris Court before the renovation: faded beauty, marked by signs of war damage. One of the spies in the film is killed and dies on original Mettlach tiles. |
The Hungarian architectural practice Archikon and the interior design company Kroki Stúdió took on this famous landmark and helped to bring it back to life. All the historical features were restored, including the glass dome which was given a protective cover. Filigree architectural elements reflect the decor of the historic tiles, the original Arabic-Moorish style wood panels have been recreated in keeping with the originals. A formerly open internal courtyard now has a roof with glass panels and sophisticated lighting has been installed in the archways of the arcade. A modern extension has also been added to this listed building.
And Villeroy&Boch has moved back in again: Bathroom & Wellness Products have been installed in the Hyatt Hotel, including Loop & Friends washbasins, Subway and ViClean toilets, Theano bathtubs and Artis Black washbasins. András Göde and Balázs Kéry, co-founders of Kroki Studio explained: “We drew inspiration from the legacy of the great designers of the 1900s, but our aim was not to create a modern-day take on the Arabian Nights, as was the original idea here.” And the result speaks for itself: a great success – and for Villeroy&Boch, a real pleasure to make its contribution to this historic site.