About Miklos YBL

Miklos Ybl (born April 6, 1814 in Szekesfegervar; died 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 Mihaly 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 Mihaly Pollack, Agoston; together they refurbished the Ikervar castle of Count Lajos Batthyany. His first main work was the church in Fot, 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 revitalization 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 Rac Baths, the former Palace of Customs, (1871-74), and the throne room and Krisztinavaros 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.