István Janáky studied at the Budapest University of Technology from 1921 to 1929. He became well known in the 1930s, especially after winning first prize for the design of the Palatinus Beach on Margaret Island in 1936. His architecture combined large-scale modern buildings with carefully crafted details and traditional materials such as exposed brick, stone, clinker and wood.
After World War II, he worked on reconstruction projects and at several state architectural institutes. Among his major works were plans for the Népstadion, the reconstruction of Buda Castle, and the Aranyhomok Hotel in Kecskemét. He also frequently collaborated with artists and incorporated sculpture and other forms of art into his buildings.
He was a founding member and later director of the Master School of Architecture, as well as a founding member of the Hungarian Association of Architects. Despite receiving major awards, he increasingly came into conflict with the rigid expectations of the state-controlled architectural system. He died unexpectedly at his workplace.
Sources