Budapest Aerodrome
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, originally Budapest Ferihegy International Airport and still usually referred to as simply Ferihegy, is the international airport serving Budapest, Hungary's capital city. It is by far the largest of Hungary's four commercial airports, surpassing Debrecen and Hévz-Balaton. When it was finished in 1937, the airfield was regarded one of the most modern in Europe, serving as a model for airports such as Dublin and Liverpool. The proposal, with its divided traffic system and modern departure building, had an impact at a time when engineers and architects were developing an altogether new architectural form—the airport for civilian traffic.
The new structures were designed to manage demanding passengers in a fashionable manner, as well as process cargo, enforce customs and immigration procedures, and service aircraft. The design is mostly symmetrical, with two wings connecting to the core cylindrical portion. The sleek, curved design is reminiscent of an airplane. On the upper floor of the center drum, there is a gallery and a top-lit passengers' lobby. The columns were originally glass-faced. An aerial photomontage wrapped around the circular lobby space, which also included a bar and sofas. Interior fixtures like doorknobs were developed in a sleek, Modernist style.
A control tower protrudes from the middle section's top like a ship's bridge, recalling the luxurious world of ocean liners. The nautical theme is enhanced by open viewing balconies and rooftop decks on the side wings. Fighting between the Germans and the Soviet Red Army was ferocious and devastating near Budapest during World Conflict II, therefore it is astonishing that the airfield survived the war mostly intact. The airport remained Budapest's primary air-traffic center until 1950, when Ferihegy Airport (later called) opened.
Location: South-east of center of Budapest
