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“Art Deco in the Puszta” was the title of the highly and we searched for solutions for years. Then, in 2022,
successful exhibition of Sajó’s oeuvre held in MODEM there was again a glimmer of hope for the book to be
in 2016-2017. The co-curators, Lilla Szoboszlai and published. The creative team in Debrecen was joined by
János Térey, managed to draw extensive attention to an outstanding photographer, Adam Magyar, who now
the exceptional architectural achievement for which also lives and works abroad; he took the photos of the
Debrecen is indebted to István Sajó, and which links the buildings in New York. All this was made possible by the
city to Dortmund and New York. Péter Méliusz Juhász Library, which embraced the project
and included it in its series strengthening Debrecen’s
The exhibition attracted keen attention not only to identity and presenting its architectural heritage. The
the development and history of Sajó’s adventurous project, which was lent new impetus, was coordinated
life path and to the numerous buildings still standing by Lilla Szoboszlai, an expert in Sajó’s oeuvre and the
today, but also to mementos of Modernist architecture co-curator of the MODEM exhibition. She is the author
in Debrecen, ranging from the Rimanóczy Villa to the of the descriptive texts of this volume, while the Atomic
Centrum department store and the twenty-four-storey Media team contributed the drone photos and Zoltán
block. A process began at that time that allows us to Jenei, who was the graphic designer of the Hugyecz
appreciate these veritable monuments of our architectural album, made the excellent design for this publication too.
heritage. They are more than shadows of the past as most
of them have remained actively used spaces of Debrecen. This album was realised not only with the aim of portraying
and celebrating a remarkable legacy, which started in
The year 2017 also marked the publication of an impressive Debrecen and is praiseworthy by international standards,
album in Shanghai. The volume devoted to the oeuvre but also with the intention to pay tribute to the people
of László Hugyecz, a contemporary of Sajó, was realised of Debrecen who resided in and worked for the town
with the participation of a Debrecen-born photographer, in that period (as it clearly transpires from the stories
Nicky Almasy. When news of the current book reached linked to the buildings) and who are our role models
me, I contacted Nicky, whom I have known for many even today. With this book we, as their successors,
years, and János Térey, another old acquaintance. I put wish to pay homage to István Sajó, who designed the
forward the idea that an album on Sajó, modelled on the country’s first stadium for free, and, among others, to
one on Hugyecz, could be made besides the excellent Dr Jenő Fényes, a lawyer, the founder of an orphanage
exhibition catalogue. The preparatory work and the and a patron of the arts, who was one of Sajó’s clients.
photographs of the Debrecen locations were completed
quickly, thanks to MODEM, but the process stalled at This album is intended to be more than a finely
this point. In the meantime, János tragically passed implemented, aesthetic piece also in that it is us,
01 Térey can no longer enjoy this moment with us. We
Debreceners, who wrote it and present it to our
away. Yet, Nicky and I were not deterred from the plan
compatriots. Our only sadness and regret is that János
dedicate this volume to his memory too.
Deputy Mayor Dr István Puskás
