Szeged, Hungary

In 1906, Iván Reök hired 29 year-old architect Ede Magyar to design a residential building on a prime location he had acquired. The art nouveau building moved in a fresh new direction, differing from the work of Ödön Lechner and his followers. To execute the ironwork, ornamental blacksmith Pál Fekete, who had just completed working on on the nearby New Synagogue of Szeged, was chosen. The results included one of the finest staircases anywhere.

After suffering deterioration and misguided attempts at restoration, the building was completely reconstructed and reopened as an arts center in 2007, the building’s 100 years jubilee. With the success of the Reök-palota, Ede Maygar had an amazing prolific period creating 22 buildings during the following 5 years. It came to an abrupt end in 1912, when due to a failed romance, Maygar committed suicide.