VISITING BUDAPESTIANFLOORS
Make architectural heritage “cool” again
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: BEATRIX TORMA
We talked to Krisztina Kovács, the founder of the Budapestianfloors Instagram profile, about inspirations, floor tiles, raising awareness, and the unique character of their Buda home, which features both cement tiles and terrazzo surfaces. Come and read with us!
Budapestianfloors is dedicated to showcasing and documenting the original cement and terrazzo floors found in Budapest’s stairwells and historic buildings.
What inspired you to start the page?
I walk a lot, and whenever I spotted an open gate, I’d peek in, and soon started noticing the floors. My first real encounter came during the Cultural Heritage Days, when we were granted access to buildings like the Gutenberg House or the Dreher Villa, attributed to architect Károly Hild. Other buildings caught my eye during Budapest100, a community initiative that opens historic buildings to the public.When I first launched the page, I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to take it, but I kept coming across these beautiful old tiles, and the positive feedback I received on Instagram gave me the momentum to continue.
Budapestianfloors is dedicated to showcasing and documenting the original cement and terrazzo floors found in Budapest’s stairwells and historic buildings.
What inspired you to start the page?
I walk a lot, and whenever I spotted an open gate, I’d peek in, and soon started noticing the floors. My first real encounter came during the Cultural Heritage Days, when we were granted access to buildings like the Gutenberg House or the Dreher Villa, attributed to architect Károly Hild. Other buildings caught my eye during Budapest100, a community initiative that opens historic buildings to the public.When I first launched the page, I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to take it, but I kept coming across these beautiful old tiles, and the positive feedback I received on Instagram gave me the momentum to continue.
When I first launched the page, I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to take it, but I kept coming across these beautiful old tiles, and the positive feedback I received on Instagram gave me the momentum to continue.
Are there specific motifs you’re especially fond of?
I tend to approach these tiles from a different angle. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, I’m more interested in why a certain pattern was chosen for a space, what practical or financial reasons might have been behind the choice, how motifs evolved over time, and how the same pattern can be laid in so many different ways. To borrow the motto of Budapest100: “Every house is interesting.” I believe every floor is intereting.
In today’s fast-paced world, how do you think we can get people to slow down and take notice?
We live in a world of overwhelming information. Even if you’re interested in a topic, algorithms may never show it to you. We’ve talked before about the importance of education and returning to offline spaces and real-life events. I think built heritage could be introduced in primary and secondary education. I see how much children engage with interactive exhibitions that are immersive and direct. Why couldn’t schools incorporate field trips to places like the Mihály Babits Memorial House or the Tóth Árpád Promenade?
That same appreciation for value and heritage is reflected in your home. The kitchen floor features reclaimed cement tiles, and the balcony is decorated with terrazzo tiles handpicked at the Iamart Market. At first glance, you are surrounded by old and vintage objects it radiates calm and intimacy.
When I first launched the page, I wasn’t entirely sure where I wanted to take it, but I kept coming across these beautiful old tiles, and the positive feedback I received on Instagram gave me the momentum to continue.
Are there specific motifs you’re especially fond of?
I tend to approach these tiles from a different angle. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, I’m more interested in why a certain pattern was chosen for a space, what practical or financial reasons might have been behind the choice, how motifs evolved over time, and how the same pattern can be laid in so many different ways. To borrow the motto of Budapest100: “Every house is interesting.” I believe every floor is intereting.
In today’s fast-paced world, how do you think we can get people to slow down and take notice?
We live in a world of overwhelming information. Even if you’re interested in a topic, algorithms may never show it to you. We’ve talked before about the importance of education and returning to offline spaces and real-life events. I think built heritage could be introduced in primary and secondary education. I see how much children engage with interactive exhibitions that are immersive and direct. Why couldn’t schools incorporate field trips to places like the Mihály Babits Memorial House or the Tóth Árpád Promenade?
That same appreciation for value and heritage is reflected in your home. The kitchen floor features reclaimed cement tiles, and the balcony is decorated with terrazzo tiles handpicked at the Iamart Market. At first glance, you are surrounded by old and vintage objects it radiates calm and intimacy.
I’m glad you feel that. Our home is eclectic, filled with pieces from many places, family heirlooms, flea market finds, and objects either restored by us or by skilled craftsmen. Their true value lies in the stories and personal connections they hold. The kitchen is the heart of the home, we hardly use the living room, maybe because everything’s still finding its place. We always gather in the kitchen: to chat, to do homework. There’s a little nook here too, a place to retreat. And the sunset is just magical, watching it over the silhouettes of the courtyard trees reminds me of Rome for some reason.
Like Budapestianfloors, your blog DRKUKTART also seeks to redirect our attention back to the overlooked values of our everyday surroundings, people, architecture, and nature alike.
The blog allows me to publish longer articles, including historical write-ups on specific buildings. Through that process, I realised that the topic of flooring heritage also deserved attention. Our lifestyles are changing rapidly, and what was once considered valuable may no longer be. Craft-made wooden doors and windows are often replaced with plastic ones; handmade thick tiles are swapped out for industrial ceramics; ornate architectural features are removed. It’s crucial to collect and document this existing knowledge so that we have something to draw on when we want to approach spaces with greater care and respect.
I’m glad you feel that. Our home is eclectic, filled with pieces from many places, family heirlooms, flea market finds, and objects either restored by us or by skilled craftsmen. Their true value lies in the stories and personal connections they hold. The kitchen is the heart of the home, we hardly use the living room, maybe because everything’s still finding its place. We always gather in the kitchen: to chat, to do homework. There’s a little nook here too, a place to retreat. And the sunset is just magical, watching it over the silhouettes of the courtyard trees reminds me of Rome for some reason.
Like Budapestianfloors, your blog DRKUKTART also seeks to redirect our attention back to the overlooked values of our everyday surroundings, people, architecture, and nature alike.
The blog allows me to publish longer articles, including historical write-ups on specific buildings. Through that process, I realised that the topic of flooring heritage also deserved attention. Our lifestyles are changing rapidly, and what was once considered valuable may no longer be. Craft-made wooden doors and windows are often replaced with plastic ones; handmade thick tiles are swapped out for industrial ceramics; ornate architectural features are removed. It’s crucial to collect and document this existing knowledge so that we have something to draw on when we want to approach spaces with greater care and respect.
Much like the Iamart manufactory which is committed to the preservation of historical heritage and traditional craft values as it is to responding to contemporary architectural and interior design challenges, your work, too, seeks to make architectural heritage relevant again. We’d love to invite you to speak at an Iamart Talk in the future.
You’ve put it beautifully. We really do need to make architectural heritage “cool” again, cement tiles, terrazzo floors, they already are, in terms of sustainability.
That’s always been one of my goals with the blog: to show that our everyday environments are full of hidden beauty. At first, I didn’t consciously seek out old tiles, I probably didn’t even notice them. But to see them, you need to slow down. For me, the past brings warmth and personality to a space. And yes, I’d be happy to accept your invitation. What will the topic be?
You can read Krisztina Kovács’s blog here: https://drkuktart.blog.hu
Much like the Iamart manufactory which is committed to the preservation of historical heritage and traditional craft values as it is to responding to contemporary architectural and interior design challenges, your work, too, seeks to make architectural heritage relevant again. We’d love to invite you to speak at an Iamart Talk in the future.
You’ve put it beautifully. We really do need to make architectural heritage “cool” again, cement tiles, terrazzo floors, they already are, in terms of sustainability.
That’s always been one of my goals with the blog: to show that our everyday environments are full of hidden beauty. At first, I didn’t consciously seek out old tiles, I probably didn’t even notice them. But to see them, you need to slow down. For me, the past brings warmth and personality to a space. And yes, I’d be happy to accept your invitation. What will the topic be?
You can read Krisztina Kovács’s blog here: https://drkuktart.blog.hu
