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Miklós Ybl (1865)

Miklós Ybl (Hungarian: Ybl Miklós; April 6, 1814 in Székesfehérvár – January 22, 1891 in Budapest) was one of Europe's leading architects in the mid to late nineteenth century as well as Hungary's most influential architect during his career. His most well-known work is the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest (1875-84).

After graduating from the Institute of Technology (the Politechnikum) in Vienna, Ybl became Mihály Pollack's assistant in 1832 and worked in Henrik Koth's office between 1836 and 1840. Following this, he moved to Munich and then to Italy to study. After his return, he entered into partnership with the son of Mihály Pollack, Ágoston; together they refurbished the Ikervár castle of Count Lajos Batthyány. His first main work was the church in Fót, built between 1845 and 1855.

His early, large projects were built in Romantic style, influenced by eastern motifs. Although Romanesque shapes also occur in his later buildings, after his second study tour to Italy from 1860 he became interested in the possibility of the revitalisation of the Italian Renaissance style, and designed several neo-Renaissance buildings. Many of his buildings became, and indeed are still today, determinant elements of the cityscape of Budapest: Saint Stephen's Basilica (1867-91), the Rác Baths, the former Palace of Customs, (1871-74), and the throne room and Krisztinaváros wing of the Royal Palace. He also built countless churches, apartments and castles in the provinces.

The annual architectural prize founded in 1953 was named after him in his honor.

[edit] Examples of Ybl's work

Catholic church in Fót.

Ybl designed the Palace of Customs which today houses the Corvinus University of Budapest.

Saint Stephen's Basilica in Budapest.

[edit] Major works

Hungarian State Opera House

Ybl's burial place, plot 34/1, in the Kerepesi Cemetery, Budapest.

1845-1849. Fót, Károlyi castle rebuilding
1845-1855. Fót, Roman Catholic church
cc. 1852. Budapest, Grabovszky – (Rózsa-) villa
1857-58. Budapest, National stables
cc. 1860. Albertirsa, Szapáry chapel crypt
cc. 1860. Leányfalu, Gyulai-villa
cc. 1860. Gerla, Wenckheim castle
1860-1864. Nagycenk, R.C. church
1862-től. Kecskemét, Evangelical church
1862-1865. Budapest, Festetics palace
1863. Budapest, German theatre (not built)
1863-tól. Budapest, Károly palace
1863-1864. Budapest, MTA building
cc. 1865. Fegyvernek, Szapáry castle
1865-1866. Budapest, old parliament building
1865-1879. Budapest, R.C. church, Bakáts squ.
1867. Budapest, Pálffy palace
1867-1891. Budapest, Szent István basilica. Began by Hild, continued by Ybl and finished by J. Kauser.
1870-1874. Budapest, Customs house
1871. Budapest, Margit bridge (not built)
cc. 1872. Parád, Ybl Hotel
1873-1884. Budapest, Opera house
1874-1982. Budapest, Castle kiosk and bazaar
1875-1879. Ókígyós, Wenckheim castle
1880-1882. Parádsasvár, Károlyi castle
1880-1891. Budapest, Castle hill remodelling
1882-1888. Budapest, Budapest Clarisseum R.C. church
1883-1884. Budapest, Széchenyi palace (demolished)
cc. 1888. Parád, Erzsébet Hotel
and other structures in Csurgó, Doboz, Kétegyháza, Lengyeltóti, Mácsa, Marcali, Ókigyós, Surány, etc.