The Lechner name sounds familiar to those who know the history of Hungarian architecture. The most famous representative of the Lechner family is the pioneer of Hungarian secession, Ödön Lechner. It was himself who designed the building at 40 Bartók Béla Street for his brother, Gyula Lechner. Although not as well-known as his internationally recognized brother, Gyula Lechner also proved himself a great talent. He was a painter, a writer and literary translator. ’The Tragedy of Man’ (by Imre Madách), one of the masterpieces of Hungarian drama was translated to German by him.

The construction began when Bartók Béla Street was very much different from its always buzzing character today. As Lechner’s nephew, Jenő Kismarty-Lechner wrote in his memoir, “Fehérvári Street was an unpaved muddy road taking the suburban train from Budafok to the Circus (Móricz Zsigmond Square) with its sturdy engine nicknamed ‘Coffee grinder’. Móricz Zsigmond Square must have been a wetland at the time because even when the Lechner House was under construction a sign in the middle of the road indicated the prohibition of hunting for ducks and fishing. A customs checkpoint was located here with an office in a house used as a restaurant today. A few rental houses were built soon in the neighborhood, on the corner of Lágymányosi Street with terribly flashy gypsum decoration. This is where Ödön Lechner built a modern house as the first building in the area with architectural importance.”

The house was finished by 1899. You can discover the style of the prominent secessionist on this building, too, e.g. windows with brick framework, ornamental chimney decoration, curtain or segmental arches, typically Hungarian style iron bars in the stairway. The building has 3 levels, although there meant to be one more, however, Lechner pulled it down as he was dissatisfied with its construction. This led to rising costs that allegedly generated conflicts with his brother. They could not even afford an appropriate gate so for lack of a better it was made of unplanned wood planks. Later it was Ödön’s nephew who designed an appealing oak gate, conforming to his uncle’s style. This gate is still in use in its original form.

Meanwhile a studio was established on the top floor where, for example, painter Tivadar Zemplényi lived and worked.