Hungarian
The most beautiful thermal bath in the world is in Makó. And because that is the case, the Prime Minister insisted on personally reopening the modernized and expanded Hagymatikum on Sunday.
“In Hungary it is common knowledge to know the architects of the famous buildings. This is not necessary with the buildings designed by Imre Makovecz. One look is enough to reveal the master,” said Viktor Orbán at the thermal bath, which derives its name from the famous Makó onion (hagyma = onion). “There are only two architects in the world whose style is unmistakable. What Antoni Gaudi was to Barcelona, Imre Makovecz was to Makó.”
The Prime Minister praised the achievements of the small town’s former socialist mayor, Péter Buzás, who gave Makovecz orders when he was virtually unemployed following the fall of communism – although he had achieved international fame with the Hungary pavilion at the World Exhibition in Seville in 1992. Starting with the “Onion House” cultural center and ending with the thermal bath complex, the artist was able to realize a dozen commissions in his hometown.
Imre Makovecz, who was honored with the highest architecture award “Miklós Ybl” and the Kossuth State Prize, died in 2011 shortly before the completion of the Hagymatikum thermal bath. The pool, which was modernized following a good decade, now has a new wing with a family and adventure pool on 2,500 m2. The construction project cost 12 billion forints (a good 30 million euros).
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