Public Cemetery, Sepsiszentgyörgy

The organization of the public cemetery became an important municipal task following the First World War. The issue of arranging the cemetery—opened in the years after the turn of the century—had already been raised in 1917 by chief engineer Andor Malmos. Károly Kós was commissioned to prepare the landscaping plan for the site as well as the designs for the cemetery buildings. The city administration approved the plans presented by the architect in January 1921 (presented by Dr. Kristóf Fogolyán). The exact date of the commission is unknown; it likely took place in 1919 or 1920.

Based on the amount of the design fee, it can be concluded that the design of the buildings constituted a significantly larger task than the preparation of the site-allocation drawing. This raises the hope that Kós’s original architectural plans may one day resurface.

During his years as a university student, Kós had already designed a building of a related theme—a fictional princely mausoleum for Prince Csaba. On this occasion, however, he clearly designed much more practical buildings than in his student years. It must also be taken into account that the site of the public cemetery included the old (and later the new) Heroes’ Cemetery, that is, a military burial ground which served as a venue for commemorations (for example, on the first anniversary of the city’s recapture, 14 October 1917). Since the plans were presented by Dr. Kristóf Fogolyán, it is highly likely that Kós—after consultation with Fogolyán—designed a modern mortuary for the cemetery, similar to the former cold-storage building (now still standing) on the grounds of the public hospital being constructed at the same time.

It is, however, certain that Kós prepared the detailed plans for the caretaker’s residence free of charge. The city administration, for its part, considered the arrangement of the cemetery grounds to be the most urgent task, and therefore began the commission with the preparation of the landscaping drawings. It is not known whether these plans were completed. In any case, in December 1924 the city council voted to begin the arrangement works. The allocated sum was only slightly more than three times the design fee, suggesting that the works likely covered only the most essential elements of site organization. Supervision of the works was entrusted to the city’s chief engineer, István Szász (successor to Andor Malmos); a site plan prepared by him in 1931 has survived. A more detailed discussion of the cemetery can be found in the study The Heroes’ Cemetery of Sepsiszentgyörgy by Lajos Demeter.

Sources

(based on research by Árpád Csáki)

1. Design of the Public Cemetery and Its Buildings for the City of Sepsiszentgyörgy (January 1921; design drawings missing):

On 26 January 1921, architect Károly Kós presented the site plan of the new public cemetery, along with the proposed designs for the buildings and landscaping. Presenter: municipal medical officer Dr. Kristóf Fogolyán, file no. 802/1921, based on the designer’s presentation. The City Council approved the proposal and determined payment of the design fees as follows:

1. For the design of the buildings: 13,111 lei

2. For landscaping: 1,889 lei
   
   Total: 15,000 lei

Architect Károly Kós declared that he would prepare the detailed plans for the caretaker’s residence free of charge for the city. This declaration was acknowledged.

Minutes of the City Council of Sepsiszentgyörgy, 1921.

ANRCov, Fond 14, Inv. 5/9, No. 98, fols. 12v–13r.

2. Payment order. Instruction by Mayor Crișan of Sepsiszentgyörgy to the municipal treasury to pay 15,000 lei from public funds to certified architect Károly Kós, resident of Sztána, as an honorarium for the preparation of schematic designs for the landscaping and buildings of the public cemetery.

ANRCov, Fond 14, Inv. 5, Pachet 405, No. 802/1921.

3. Receipt by Károly Kós acknowledging cash receipt of the above-mentioned amount.

Sepsiszentgyörgy, 26 January 1921.

ANRCov, Fond 14, Inv. 5, Pachet 405, No. 802/1921.