Budapest

The construction involved reinforced technology and other applications, which at the time were unique in Europe. The store enthralled its visitors. The outstanding features of the atrium-type building with galleries were its five-storey, glass covered courtyard, a roof terrace with a viewing promenade, a restaurant for 400 and a splendid panorama of the Buda Hills. Distinguished customers could even ice skate among the dazzling decorations.The architects also did their best inside - with marble pillars, Zsolnay ceramic ornamentation, gilded banisters, stained glass windows designed by the noted craftsman Miksa Róth and the pride of the store - glass cased, mirrored lifts. The former ballroom was adorned with the frescos of Károly Lotz and Árpád Feszty, featuring Budapest's apotheosis with the patron of Hungarians flanked by the symbolic figures of trade and plenty. The standard of services was heightened by the store's own telephone network. Thus everything was in place for the store to be really the best of the best. However, history had its say and the economic crisis following World War I meant the Paris reached the verge of bankruptcy. The owners then transformed the family business into a joint stock company, the departments were rented out to different tenants whose only connection was the common opening hours and advertising. The arrangement worked so well that the building was even expanded around 1930.

Then another world war broke out and when it ended the Paris was renamed the Hall of Fashion, after which began a great survivor's sad decline. In vain did it become a listed building in the 1960s and regain its former name 30 years later. Decay could no longer be stopped. At the end of the 1990s the Paris Department store gave up, its shop windows covered with brown paper and its locked doors were sorrowful reminders of its former splendour. Various ideas were raised about its fate. Plans for museums and cultural centres were mentioned, even the name of the Guggenheim Museum was indicated among the possibilities. None of the plans came true. Thus matters remained until 2006 when the Paris Department Store was acquired by the French-Luxembourg Orco Property Group, which immediately set about renovating the elegant elderly lady.

The building, opening next spring, will again house a refined and up-to-date store on the first two floors, preserving all the features which made the edifice so extraordinary a century ago. The upper five levels will have open space, state of the art offices and the roof terrace will house a stylish restaurant again, just like in the good old days. The Paris Department Store has turned a page, receiving a new role and new colours so it could once again become the best of the best. We are sincerely keeping our fingers crossed.