Maros-Torda County Hall, Marosvásárhely II.

On the main square, a new town hall was erected in the interwar period in a Neo-Byzantine style. Károly Kós prepared several alternative proposals for the transformation of this building’s façade. According to the concepts, these designs were intended to adopt a stylistic approach closer to that of the neighboring turn-of-the-century buildings.

Contemporary press sources provide detailed accounts of the construction, naming Sándor Radó as the designer and Iván Kocsis as the supervising authority. The works were ordered by the Minister of Industry. Károly Kós stayed in the town together with Iván Kotsis, while Kós himself was commissioned to redesign the police building. Period press sources also confirm that Károly Kós was invited in a similar capacity to Csíkszereda and Sepsiszentgyörgy. In the same context, it is mentioned that he was involved in the restoration of the Fortress Church, a fact corroborated by other sources as well.

Based on the surviving plans, it can be established that in March 1941 Károly Kós was engaged in designing the façade of the county hall, preparing sketch proposals in several variants. It remains unclear whether these were produced for Sándor Radó, whom he knew well, or for the county leadership, or at the request of the Ministry of Industry and Iván Kotsis, with whom he collaborated.

Excerpt:

Keleti Újság, 19 July 1941, p. 5.

The unfinished construction works of the new county hall in Marosvásárhely will be completed by early winter

The police building will be remodeled and the ancient fortress church restored as well

(Marosvásárhely, July 18.)

Among current public construction projects, one of the largest-scale undertakings is the completion of the new county hall in Marosvásárhely. Construction of the building began during Romanian rule, and the Vienna Award found it in an unfinished state. The county leadership decided to complete the building but to alter its architectural style. Several months earlier, the leadership of Maros-Torda County commissioned retired city chief engineer Sándor Radó to prepare plans for the transformation of the county hall. Chief Engineer Radó completed the designs, which were subsequently reviewed by Dr. Iván Kocsis, professor at the Technical University. Following the approval of the transformation plans, a tender was announced for the works, and the masonry contract was awarded to engineer Kálmán Petrovits. The transformation works are estimated to cost 400,000 pengő.

The construction works are progressing at a rapid pace. Dr. Iván Kocsis, retired full professor at the Technical University, arrived in Marosvásárhely as a delegate of the Minister of Industry. His task is to provide intellectual direction for the transformation works and to supervise the new architectural style of the building. Dr. Kocsis inspected the construction works and expressed his satisfaction with their progress. Given the rapid advancement of the works, there is hope that construction will be completed by early winter and that the county offices will be able to move into the new county hall by Christmas.

Károly Kós, the well-known and outstanding Transylvanian architect, also stayed in Marosvásárhely in recent days, having arrived in the Székely capital on assignment from the Minister of Industry. His task was to remodel the police building and to prepare a new floor plan layout. Due to the increased volume of administrative activity, an expansion of office spaces is required, and the proper accommodation of police personnel is also not ensured under current conditions. Moreover, the police building itself is in need of structural reinforcement. According to information received, the remodeling of the police building will cost between 60,000 and 70,000 pengő, providing new employment opportunities not only for workers but also for local craftsmen in Marosvásárhely.

During his stay in Marosvásárhely, Károly Kós also found the opportunity to inspect the ancient fortress church, which was in need of restoration. It is known that the National Committee for Monuments had declared the fortress church a protected monument, and the restoration works were to be carried out accordingly. In this regard, Károly Kós held extended discussions with Gábor Adorján, Reformed senior pastor. He also inspected a fifteenth-century fresco that had recently been discovered during construction works and recommended that the church plot be separated from the fortress grounds by a brick enclosure.