You Hotel Budapest – Handwritten Collection
As an interior photographer, whenever I enter a new location, my first step is always observation. I don’t reach for the camera first; instead, I "read" the space. The lines, the interplay of light, the convergence of textures, and the building’s very "breath." In the case of You Hotel Budapest – Handwritten Collection, this breath exuded a cocoa-scented history, even as my eyes were already drawn to the brand-new, vibrant design elements. I bring you this project from Szentkirályi Street.
Stühmer Heritage in an Art Deco Guise
The building at 8 Szentkirályi Street is no average downtown property: it was the legendary Stühmer chocolate factoryand headquarters. Designed by Ferenc Kende, the Art Deco building was constructed in 1928. Stühmer csokoládégyár és székház. A Kende Ferenc által tervezett, Art Deco stílusú épület 1928-ban épült.
A D55 Architect Office approached the building with respect: during general planning, they preserved the heritage façade, while the inner courtyard was reimagined in a contemporary style with yellow and grey tones. The contrast between the exterior cladding of the building—reborn through the execution of Swietelski Magyarország Kft. and the modernity of the interior spaces forms the visual backbone of this series.
The Handwritten Collection brand is characterized by a lack of "cookie-cutter design"; every hotel possesses its own distinct personality. Here, that personality is a fusion of youthful energy and the industrial past.
In the lobby, the concept envisioned by Studio Petór (who prepared the permitting plans for the change of function) and the French Atelier Tropique (interior design) immediately grabbed my attention. Expanded metal railings and exposed concrete/steel structures guide the eye, while pastel and vivid colors alternate. The space possesses a unique rhythm: the natural lighting of the restaurant transitions gradually into the edgier, neon atmosphere of the bar.
Among the 94 rooms, the most exciting for me as a photographer were those with a unique layout where the bathroom was elevated above the room level, thereby enhancing the sense of space. I particularly enjoy photographing rooms with few empty wall surfaces. At You Hotel Budapest, these elements are not just about design, but also function. And speaking of unique elements, the building even features a fully equipped cinema room.
The Esnée Familybrought their own "YOU Hotels" brand to Budapest with a strategic twist. This is the first property in Hungary to open under the Accor Handwritten Collection brand, while operations are managed by Accent Hotels Thank you for the trust in allowing me to photograph the first joint project of two of my valued partners.
