Veronika F. Nagy

Joyous I do's – 125 years of civil marriage in Budapest Laws on state registries and civil marriage were passed in 1894 but only entered into force a year later on 1 October 1895. The novelty of the now everyday ceremony caused such a rush that the three registrars in Budapest at the turn of the century could barely cope with the number of marriage requests. Where and how did the first civil marriage in Hungary unfold?

A Second Hall to Thalia – 145th anniversary of the former Népszínház opening An independent theatre for folk plays that is the Popular Theatre or People's Theatre, Népszínház was opened as a home for the genre which had become popular during the Hungarian National Awakening. The building was completed as a result of an increasingly concerted effort and support from the city. Standing on the present-day Blaha Lujza Square, the structure was designed by the Austrian architects Fellner and Helmer, who were well-known for their theatres. The beautiful building in the eclectic-style was opened with much circumstance on 15 October 1875. The building housed the National Theatre from 1908 and was torn down in the spring of 1965.

Water meters were installed 100 years ago to reduce water waste It is hard to imagine today that drinking water from the tap was not always a basic service. Mihály Kajlinger, born 160 years ago, has indisputable merit in the organisation and construction of Budapest's water supply. His name is associated with the plans for the capital's large sewage pumping station, sewerage, and water supply network, but water consumption meters were also introduced at his suggestion to curb water waste. His main work, the waterworks of Káposztásmegyer, was the most beautiful and modern waterworks in contemporary Europe.

Born 125 years ago the architect Gedeon Gerlóczy is remembered as a saviour of Csontváry’s paintings Gedeon Gerlóczy was a leading figure of modern architecture in Hungary. Several of his buildings became landmarks in Budapest as it changed between the two world wars. As the designer of new hospitals, he became a pioneer for a modernist interpretation of these functional buildings. And as the saviour of several of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka’s paintings, he is remembered as the “painting saving architect.”