Dr. habil. Deodáth Zuh, member of the Architecture, Design and Technology Doctoral School and Associate Professor at the Ybl Miklós Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Óbuda University, participated in the international symposium The Cladding of Art Nouveau Buildings: Theory, History, and Practice of Architectural Covering Materials, held in Budapest on 1–2 June 2026. The event formed part of the European project Art Nouveau as a New EUtopia and was organized by the Museum of Applied Arts Budapest in cooperation with the Réseau Art Nouveau Network.

Bringing together researchers and heritage experts from several European countries, the symposium explored the theory, history, and material culture of Art Nouveau architectural surfaces, with particular attention to ceramics, cement tiles, terrazzo, and related techniques.

Dr. Zuh delivered a presentation entitled “Cladding as Homage. Oradea’s Art Nouveau Buildings Paying Tribute to Otto Wagner and Ödön Lechner” during the opening session dedicated to the principle of clothing in Art Nouveau architecture. His lecture examined the exceptional Art Nouveau heritage of Oradea, demonstrating how the city’s buildings embody the nineteenth-century theory of architectural “dressing” while simultaneously paying tribute to two seminal architects of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Otto Wagner and Ödön Lechner. Drawing on examples by Marcell Komor, Dezső Jakab, and the Vágó brothers, the presentation highlighted how decorative cladding could function not only as a means of protection and representation, but also as an expression of remembrance and architectural homage.

Dr. Zuh’s participation contributed to the international visibility of the Architecture, Design and Technology Doctoral School and further strengthened Óbuda University’s presence in scholarly discussions on architectural theory, heritage, and the cultural significance of the built environment.

Photo: About Art Nouveau - https://aboutartnouveau.wordpress.com/