Sustainable protection and promotion of Art Nouveau heritage in the Danube Region

Activity 4.1. Cooperation on research

Questionnaire about Art Nouveau decoration and restoration (one sheet per building should be prepared)

I. Building’s data

Photo of building for identification purposes, or

link to online database, repository:
http://szecesszio.szegedvaros.hu/routes-subotica-
miksa-domotor-palace/?lang=en
Name of the Architect(s) Date Heritage status kind of restoration to be Chief restorer or Year of
building, (listed in national presented architect restoration
address, registry, local - complete responsible for
country (include protection, etc.) reconstruction restoration
historic names - partial reconstruction
as well)
Miksa Dömötör József Vágó 1906 Listed in national Complete reconstruction Eng. Gábor 2008
Palace (1877–1947) and registry as a Dömötör,
(Today the City László Vágó building of architect
Museum’s (1875–1933) particular value,
building), 24000 with local historic
Subotica Trg importance
Sinagoge 3., R.
Serbia

II. Building’s function

Original function of the building Change of function Year of the change New function
yes/no of function
It was meant to be an apartment building yes 1910 It became the property and office building of the
with the home of the owner with his Commercial and Credit Company of Subotica;
doctor,s office, flats for rent and a press. 1914 It became the property and office building of the
Vojvodina Trading and Distribution Company;
1925 It became the property and office building of the
Minerva Press and Publishing Company;
1946 The communist authorities confiscated the
 building, and it became the head office of the
People’s Minerva Press Company;
2008 It became The City Museum of Subotica.

III. Alterations/annexes/rebuilding

Building was Description of alteration/extension Year of

altered/extended alteration/extension
yes/no/unknown
yes -During the history of existence of the building, an extension has been added from the ? (1960-ies/70-ies)
side of the courtyard to support the function of the press. The year is unknown.
-The whole building was adapted, restored and reconstructed. Alternations have been 2008
made in the ground floor, first floor, and the loft, according to the requests of the new
function of the Museum. The main- and the courtyard facade had to be restored and
reconstructed into its original shape.

IV. Former renovations

Former renovation Partial renovation Complete renovation

year Not known Not known
year not known Not known Not known
short description of the - -
renovation
 V. Restoration process and interventions to be presented

The building was entirely The building was partially Decoration technique to be presented Restorer
reconstructed: year reconstructed: year (Plaster, ceramic, mosaic, stained glass, terrazzo,
ironwork, painted decoration, etc.)
2008 - 1. Restoration of the mortar relief ornaments; Company Expres servis
2. Restoration of the plaster relief ornaments; Subotica
3. Wrought-iron work – reconstruction of the
terrace-fences. Restoration of the staircase
fences;
4. Carpentry–restoration of the windows and
doors, reconstruction of the original main
entrance door. Parquet restoration;
5. Painted decoration – final painting of the
facade and its relief ornamentals according to
their original colours. The same in the interior;
6. Stone restoration – restoration of the stone
stairs;
7. Terrazzo restoration. Restoration of all
terrazzo floors in the interior. In the new part
of the entrance hall, putting down a new
terrazzo floor;
Type of intervention Description of the Short description of intervention State after the intervention
restoration/reconstruction original condition
/change
1. The mortar and the 1. After the laboratory and In situ expertise, all of 1. The mortar surfaces and
mortar relief the damaged and loose parts of the facade ornaments were restored
ornaments on the mortar have been removed and replaced with successfully;
facade surfaces were new vapour permeable mortar according to the 2. The plaster ornamentals
partly damaged, felt original. The ornamentals have been restored have been restored
off; with stucco-plaster successfully;
2. Some plaster made 2. The missing parts and pieces of the plaster 3. The wrought-iron work
ornamentals in the ornaments have been newly produced by the was restored successfully;
exterior and interior help of moulds, and completed according to the 4. The wood-work was
were damaged, original. restored successfully;
partially or 3. All wrought-iron parts of the building have been 5. The facade paint was
completely missing; cleaned from the old paint, treated, missing restored successfully;
3. All wrought-iron parts completed, and painted again with a 6. The stone-work was
pieces on the special paint for metal according to the original restored successfully;
building were in a colour. 7. The terrazzo floors have
shape, they had to be 4. The paint from all of the carpentry was been restored successfully;
restored, missing removed; the wood was restored by the
parts completed; replacement of the missing and damaged parts,
4. The paint of all and painted again with a special paint for wood
carpentry was old according to the original colour. The original
and damaged, some parquet was polished and lacquered.
wooden parts were 5. The facade paint had to be completely removed
missing, and the from all of the treated surfaces and decorative
 parquet was elements; they had to be prepared for the new
haughty; painting according to the coloristic design. The
5. The facade paint was new paint had to be mineral based and vapour
in a relative good permeable.
condition, but it had 6. The stone stairs had to be re-polished and the
to be re-painted missing parts completed with same or similar
according to the new stone parts. Cracks had to be treated with
coloristic design. The Epoxide resin of the same colour.
same in the interior; 7. The broken and missing pieces of the existing
6. The stone stairs were terrazzo floor had to be replaced. For the new
in bad shape, with floor surfaces of the entrance new sheets had to
partial damages, be produced in accordance with the existing
missing parts. samples;
7. The existing terrazzo
floors are in poor
shape, worn, parts
are missing.

VI. Further information about the restoration

Publications or other 1. Prčić Vujnović, Gordana – Aladžić, Viktorija – Grlica, Mirko, Gradotvorci 1, Subotica, 2006, 156-159.Gerle
publicly available János, Kovács Attila, Makovecz Imre: A századforduló magyar építészete, Békéscsaba 1990, 203–209.
information about the 2. Prcić Vujnović Gordana, Stvaralaštvo Jožefa i Lasla Vagoa u Subotici, Secesija u Subotici – Szecesszió
restoration process Szabadkán (urednik: Krstić, Boško) Subotica – Budapest, 2002, 122–126 .
(website) 3. Grlica, Mirko – Lovas, Ildikó, Kuća koja pamti – Egy ház emlékei, Gradski Muzej Subotica, Subotica, 2007
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/483925922432112716/
 http://www.gradskimuzej.subotica.rs/?page_id=549&lang=en
http://www.kulturput.rs/?page_id=579&lang=en
https://www.balkanvibe.com/story/Subotica-The-Art-Nouveau-Fairytale-Town/383

Photo documentation
about the restoration
(website, archive, etc.)