Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre

Budapest Courtyards

Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre

born in 1981 in Orsay and in 1987 in Châtenay-Malabry (France)

"By their repetition, similarity, and number, the courtyards of buildings in Budapest form a unique architectural ensemble. Urbanism constructed around courtyards is not a rarity, but the courtyards of the Hungarian capital are themselves particular. They exist around an original structure and the majority of the buildings also contain running corridors on each floor. In addition to this original utilitarian disposition, these monumental atriums are crossed by a large variety of architectural elements that are a mix between classicism, Budapest's historic style, exoticism, and an aspiration for modernity. This monumentality and eclecticism are the reflection of a city that was known for its swift rise at the end of the 19th century in becoming a city of an international caliber. From 2014 to 2017, we sought out these interior courtyards that form their own city inside the one they are constructed on. During our different trips, we selected and visited more than 350 out of the 4000 courtyards that make up the historic Hungarian capital. The series became a typology of around 150 images that at once constitutes a descriptive ensemble of these very particular collective spaces, as well as bears witness to the movement of the city: of its diverse battles, changes in politics and in their economy, and how the layouts of these courtyards are affected by these aspects as a result." Yves Marchand & Romain Meffre