JANÁKY, István Jr.
Architect
(Budapest, 29th April, 1938 - )
1956-1960: Technical University of Budapest; 1970-1972: Master’s School of the Hungarian Builders Society; masters: István Janáky Sr. and Jenő Szendrői. From the year of 1977 up until its cessation he was a member of the visual culture research work-group of the Magyar Tudományos Akadémia /MTA/ (Hungarian Scientific Academy). He is a member of both the Magyar Építőművészek Szövetsége (Society of Hungarian Building Artists) and of the Magyar Építész Kamara (Hungarian Chamber of Architecture), he was a study member of the Masters’ School of the Society of Hungarian Building Artists between 1974 an 1980. 1990: Ybl Miklós Award. Janáky resides in Budapest. He was preparing to be a painter; still he submits his application to the Architectural Faculty of the Hungarian Technical University of Budapest. He completed his studies in 1961, and found a job at the Railway-Planning Sector of MÁV Vasúttervező Vállalat (Hungarian National Railway Company), then from 1962 he became an architectural designer fro IPARTERVE (main co-worker from 1985). During the period he was especially interested in the designs of Farkas Molnár, and the architectural theory of the Bauhaus Movement, especially the idea according to which the architect was not in need of artistic formulation. This theory, refined over the years, is still present on his architectural designs, however this contradicts the basic concepts held of the older master, of great influence, the Senior István Janáky. In other aspects however he does follow in his father’s footsteps. In the year of 1965, he and his father submitted a joint design for the tender of the National Theatre of Hungary. Furthermore he too, similar to his father published a large number of publications as well as preparing many drawings, and sketches. Both their work is characterized by in depth thought and a high level of “sensitivity”, in all their fields (writings, drawings, as well as designs). For Janáky drawing was primary: serving the goal of both understanding and experiencing his surroundings (for instance, during the course of his travels he prepared travel-drawings, rather than photographs), as well as proving the beauty of the given building. Within the framework of his architectural drawings scenery and vegetations are given significant importance, he deals with this in separate study-drawings. He often makes use of natural materials in the designing of his buildings, for instance ashlar and bricks. Two works of Janáky may be brought into close relation with fine arts. He designed the exhibition building for the work of Erzsébet Schaár entitled Utca /Street/, in Pécs, in the year of 1974. Then in 1998 he prepared the designs for the 60 ton Időkerék (Time Wheel) structure, erected in the Városliget /Park in Budapest near the Hero’s Square/, which was erected on the 31st of December, 1999. His work, which has become well known to the larger public entitled Lepkeház /Butterfly House/ (1990), had a peculiar fate. It was his work, which won the tender for the Hungarian Pavilion for the World Exhibition of Seville, however due to a change in opinion, it was not his work, which represented Hungary at the World Exhibition.
