Emil Belluš

Emil Belluš’s choice of where to study reflects the political and cultural developments in Central Europe. In September 1918, he began his architectural education in Budapest, the capital of the Hungarian half of the Habsburg Monarchy, to which Slovakia then belonged. As Slovakia had no suitable university for the study of architecture, he subsequently moved to Prague, where he studied following the foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918. One of his teachers was Antonín Engel, who was known for his monumental Neoclassical buildings. Belluš completed his studies in 1923 and began working in Bratislava in 1925.

Engel’s influence is evident in several of Belluš’s works, including the Czechoslovak National Bank building in Bratislava. However, Belluš also repeatedly forged his own path towards international Modernism, becoming one of the leading figures in Slovak architecture. You can find further information on these and other selected buildings on our website.

In Bratislava, Belluš designed buildings that reinforced the city’s metropolitan character.

Belluš also played an active role in establishing the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava (Slovenská technická univerzita v Bratislave). He co-founded its Faculty of Architecture and Building Construction and was committed to developing architectural and urban planning education in Slovakia. Until 1970, he taught and mentored generations of young architects.

After the Second World War, Belluš designed public buildings in communist Czechoslovakia. His Mladá Garda student residence in Bratislava is a particularly notable example of his use of the ideological principles of Socialist Realism. However, his architectural style had already incorporated Neoclassical elements during the 1930s. In the interior design of the residence, he was also able to apply functionalist principles, organising the students’ daily lives in shared spaces.

Since 1990, the Emil Belluš Award (Cena Emila Belluša) has been presented in his honour. It recognises individuals for their lifetime contributions to architecture.

Sources

• youtube.com Emil Belluš
• Wikipedia Emil Belluš
• Dulla, Moravčíková: Architektúra Slovenska v 20. storočia, 2002