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Coordinates: 47°29′59.09″N 19°2′52.73″E / 47.4997472°N 19.0479806°E / 47.4997472; 19.0479806
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{{Short description|Historic building in Budapest, Hungary}}
{{original research|date=June 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2019}}
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[[File:Gresham Palace - Stierch 01.jpg|thumb|Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Gresham Palace]]
{{primary sources|date=January 2019}}
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[[File:Interior of the Gresham Palace.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Interior of the Gresham Palace]]
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[[File:Gresham Palace - Stierch 01.jpg|thumb|right|Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Gresham Palace]]
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The '''Gresham Palace''' or '''Gresham-palota''', located in [[Budapest]], [[Hungary]], is an example of [[Art Nouveau]] architecture in [[Central Europe]]. Completed in 1906 as an office building ana apartments, it is today the ''''''Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Gresham Palace'''''', a luxury hotel managed by [[Four Seasons Hotels]].
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[[File:Interior of the Gresham Palace.jpg|thumb|right|Interior of the Gresham Palace]]
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The '''Gresham Palace''' ('''''Gresham-palota''''') is a building in [[Budapest]], [[Hungary]]; it is an example of [[Art Nouveau]] architecture. Completed in 1906 as an office and apartment building, it is today the '''Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Gresham Palace''', a luxury hotel managed by [[Four Seasons Hotels]]. It is located along the [[River Danube]], adjacent to Széchenyi Square and the eastern terminus of the [[Széchenyi Chain Bridge]].


==History==
==History==
The site was once occupied by Nákó House, a [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] palace built in 1827. In 1880, the [[London]]-based Gresham Life Assurance Company bought the property, at a time when it was illegal to invest money in stocks, but rental income was a wise investment. The company later decided to build its foreign headquarters on the site, and decided that they needed a grander setting for them. They commissioned local architect [[Zsigmond Quittner]] to design the new structure, and in 1904, they began construction of the Gresham Palace, which was completed in 1906 and opened in 1907.<ref>http://palacehotelsoftheworld.com/greshampalace/</ref>
The site was once occupied by [[Nákó House]], a [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] palace built in 1827. In 1880, the [[London]]-based [[Gresham Life Assurance Society|Gresham Life Assurance Company]] bought the property, at a time when it was illegal for insurance companies in [[Great Britain]] to invest money in stocks, but rental income was an acceptable and legal investment. The company later decided to build its foreign headquarters on the site, and decided that they needed a grander setting for them. They commissioned local architects [[Zsigmond Quittner]] and Jozsef Vago to design the new structure, and in 1904, they began construction of the Gresham Palace, which was completed in 1906 and opened in 1907.<ref name=Gresham /> It was named after the 16th-century English financier [[Sir Thomas Gresham]], the founder of the [[Royal Exchange, London|Royal Exchange]] in London.


Originally, the palace served as an office building as well as a home for wealthy British aristocrats associated with the Gresham company. During the occupation after [[World War II]], [[Red Army|Soviet soldiers]] resided in the extravagant palace. Eventually, it became decrepit and was used as an apartment building during the [[People's Republic of Hungary]]. In 1990, when democracy was restored, the national government presented the palace to the city of Budapest.
Originally, the palace served as an office building as well as a residence for senior staff of the Gresham company. During the occupation after [[World War II]], the [[Red Army]] used the building as a barracks. Eventually, it became decrepit and was used as an apartment building during the [[People's Republic of Hungary]]. In 1990, following the end of the communist regime, the national government presented the palace to the city of Budapest.


[[Oberoi Hotels]] entered into an agreement to manage a hotel in the building in 1991, but ensuing legal battles with residents of the building caused Oberoi to drop out in 1995.<ref>http://palacehotelsoftheworld.com/greshampalace/</ref> [[Four Seasons Hotels]] then agreed to manage the hotel in 1999. In 2001, the building was bought by the Irish investment company Quinland Private. They extensively rebuilt the structure as a luxury hotel, restoring such original details as a large staircase, [[stained glass]], mosaics, [[ironwork]] and winter gardens. The Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Palace Hotel opened in 2004. In November 2011 the hotel was bought by The State General Reserve Fund of [[Oman]], though Four Seasons continues to manage it.
[[Oberoi Hotels]] entered into an agreement to manage a hotel in the building in 1991, but ensuing legal battles with residents of the building caused Oberoi to drop out in 1995.<ref name=Gresham>{{cite web|url=http://palacehotelsoftheworld.com/greshampalace/|title=Gresham Palace Budapest par Palace Hotels de the World.com|website=palacehotelsoftheworld.com|access-date=2014-03-20|archive-date=2020-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218000634/http://palacehotelsoftheworld.com/greshampalace/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1998, Gresco Investments Ltd acquired the building and received approval from the Budapest Heritage Board to reconstruct it as a luxury hotel while retaining its original [[Art Nouveau]] architecture.<ref name="Reconstruction">{{cite web|url=https://www.hotelmanagement-network.com/projects/gresham_palace/|title=Four Seasons}}</ref> Gresco raised $85 million for renovations and in 1999 Four Seasons agreed to oversee the reconstruction and manage the new property.

In 2001, the building was bought by the Irish investment company Quinlan Private. They extensively rebuilt the structure as a luxury hotel, restoring such original details as a large staircase, [[stained glass]], mosaics, ironwork, and winter gardens. The hotel reopened in June 2004.<ref name="Reopened">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/travel/budapests-four-seasons-hotel-gresham-palace.html|title=Budapest's Four Seasons Hotel, Gresham Palace|first=Heather|last=Timmons|work=The New York Times |date=27 February 2005|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> In November 2011, the hotel was bought by the State General Reserve Fund of [[Oman]], though Four Seasons continues to manage it. It currently has 179 guest rooms, including 17 suites.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Gresham Palace}}
*[http://www.fourseasons.com/budapest Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace]
* {{official website|http://www.fourseasons.com/budapest/}}
*[http://thepalacehotelsoftheworld.com/greshampalace History of the Gresham Palace]
* [http://en.funiq.hu/gresham-palota-budapest Gresham Palace at funiq.hu]

{{Budapest}}
{{Four Seasons Hotels}}
{{Coord|47|29|59.09|N|19|2|52.73|E|region:HU_type:landmark|display=title}}
{{Coord|47|29|59.09|N|19|2|52.73|E|region:HU_type:landmark|display=title}}


[[Category:Art Nouveau architecture]]
[[Category:Art Nouveau apartment buildings]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Budapest]]
[[Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Budapest]]
[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1906]]
[[Category:Art Nouveau commercial buildings]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1906]]
[[Category:Art Nouveau hotels]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Hungary]]
[[Category:Palaces in Budapest]]
[[Category:Four Seasons hotels and resorts]]
[[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1906]]
[[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1906]]
[[Category:Hotels in Budapest]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Austria-Hungary]]

Latest revision as of 15:46, 25 November 2024

Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Gresham Palace
Interior of the Gresham Palace

The Gresham Palace (Gresham-palota) is a building in Budapest, Hungary; it is an example of Art Nouveau architecture. Completed in 1906 as an office and apartment building, it is today the Four Seasons Hotel Budapest Gresham Palace, a luxury hotel managed by Four Seasons Hotels. It is located along the River Danube, adjacent to Széchenyi Square and the eastern terminus of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

History

[edit]

The site was once occupied by Nákó House, a neo-classical palace built in 1827. In 1880, the London-based Gresham Life Assurance Company bought the property, at a time when it was illegal for insurance companies in Great Britain to invest money in stocks, but rental income was an acceptable and legal investment. The company later decided to build its foreign headquarters on the site, and decided that they needed a grander setting for them. They commissioned local architects Zsigmond Quittner and Jozsef Vago to design the new structure, and in 1904, they began construction of the Gresham Palace, which was completed in 1906 and opened in 1907.[1] It was named after the 16th-century English financier Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of the Royal Exchange in London.

Originally, the palace served as an office building as well as a residence for senior staff of the Gresham company. During the occupation after World War II, the Red Army used the building as a barracks. Eventually, it became decrepit and was used as an apartment building during the People's Republic of Hungary. In 1990, following the end of the communist regime, the national government presented the palace to the city of Budapest.

Oberoi Hotels entered into an agreement to manage a hotel in the building in 1991, but ensuing legal battles with residents of the building caused Oberoi to drop out in 1995.[1] In 1998, Gresco Investments Ltd acquired the building and received approval from the Budapest Heritage Board to reconstruct it as a luxury hotel while retaining its original Art Nouveau architecture.[2] Gresco raised $85 million for renovations and in 1999 Four Seasons agreed to oversee the reconstruction and manage the new property.

In 2001, the building was bought by the Irish investment company Quinlan Private. They extensively rebuilt the structure as a luxury hotel, restoring such original details as a large staircase, stained glass, mosaics, ironwork, and winter gardens. The hotel reopened in June 2004.[3] In November 2011, the hotel was bought by the State General Reserve Fund of Oman, though Four Seasons continues to manage it. It currently has 179 guest rooms, including 17 suites.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Gresham Palace Budapest par Palace Hotels de the World.com". palacehotelsoftheworld.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  2. ^ "Four Seasons".
  3. ^ Timmons, Heather (27 February 2005). "Budapest's Four Seasons Hotel, Gresham Palace". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
[edit]
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47°29′59.09″N 19°2′52.73″E / 47.4997472°N 19.0479806°E / 47.4997472; 19.0479806

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