Korai és érett modernista építészet Kolozsváron
Early and Mature Modernist Architecture in Cluj /Kolozsvár

Summary/Abstract: In the article Eclecticism, Secession, and Early Modernism, published in the 1980 Korunk Yearbook, Ferenc Balogh drew attention to the architectural research on the “circles of craftsmen” in Cluj, their authors, and works from the early 20th century. He illustrated his argument by listing several outstanding projects: the Tătaru House, designed in the office of the world-famous Italian architect Gio Ponti; works by Josef Hoffmann, who also has buildings in Cluj; and the career of József Babolnai, who went on to become one of the most renowned movie theater designers in America. Indeed, my initial stage of research, presented here, confirms the existence of a “circle” of contractors, architects, particularly interesting commissioners, and publications – connected with international avant-garde architectural networks – that produced a large number of valuable buildings in Cluj during the interwar years. Naturally, such architectural achievements and their immaterial (historical, intellectual, spiritual) dimensions are not unique, and can be found in other cities with similar cultural effervescence at the time, or in other historical-artistic contexts. Nevertheless, it remains a source of genuine delight to see how dense and compelling the subject has become in our own city – with aspects that still await full exploration. For both practicing architects and the broader public, it can be inspiring to observe how a concept so radically different from all previous styles was locally implemented over the span of scarcely a decade.

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