Farmyard and Poultry Run (Budapest Municipal Zoological and Botanical Gardens)
Description
‘The Poultry Run, in which a wide variety of types can be raised, could be of special interest to the public of Budapest. Turkeys, hens, and ducks live in the setting ofa small villagefarm. The processes of artificial incubation and poultry production are also presented. Pigeon breeding is also a feature of this building hence pigeon roosts have been located in the yard and in the attic. Our architects articulated this building as a Székely village house, which would accommodate a family whose task it is to ensure the smooth running of the farm. The owner might likewise be involved in beekeeping with traditional as well as newer glass hives allowing the public to study the life of bees. We thought that one room of this house should be devoted to silk production; perhaps permitting the presentation of other commercial insects as well.' (Lendl Adolf: Az új Állatkert. In: Magyar Építőművészet VII./6. 1909)
The Farmyard is the smallest and most intimate form of village architecture, and also the smallest economic unit. This farm yard may have represented a familiar sight for the older generation of city dwellers, the parents, but for the urban youth it was probably a whole new experience. The poultry run is an artistic reiteration of the Székely village house and its surroundings. This composition comprised two major buildings, the residence for the beekeeper and the apiary, located on two sides of the small farmyard. The two buildings were linked by outbuildings. Specific features of the yard included the pigeon roost, the covered drinking trough and the tobacco kiosk ant the entrance gate.
Following World War Two, the badly damaged building was partly demolished in conjunction with the widening of the adjacent Dózsa György Street, while the remaining parts were altered. In 1998-1999 the main building was reconstructed with a replica of the old roof built on the reclaimed original walls. At the same time, three of the smaller structures, including the carved gate, were also reconstructed.
Bibliography
Lendl Adolf: Az új állatkert. In: Magyar Építőművészet VII./6. 1909 (1–16.)
Györgyi Dénes: Az állatkertről. In: Magyar Építőművészet, IV./10–12. 1912 (1–44.)
Gall, Anthony: Kós Károly műhelye – tanulmány és adattár. Mundus Magyar Egyetemi Kiadó, Budapest, 2002 (152–154.) [1909-1a]
Fabó Beáta–Anthony Gall: „Napkeletről jöttem nagy palotás rakott városba kerültem”. Kós Károly világa 1907–1914. Budapest Főváros Levéltára, 2014 (92–95.)
