bg Novi Sad

Jožef Menrath Palace

- Kralja Aleksandra 14 -
The construction of the three-story building, which was built with a residential and commercial function, was completed in 1908. It was built according to the project of the Hungarian architect of Jewish origin, , for the merchant Jožef Menrath. He was born in October 1863, in Novi Sad, in the family of the master carpenter Lorenz Menrath and Francisca Stock. Jožef had four brothers, Franz, Ernst, Lorenz, and Victor, and he had one sister, Theresia. Jožef's father, who's of German origin, came from to Novi Sad where he arrived as a 24 years old carpenter, where in 1843 he founded his own business called L. Menrath & Son. Together with his sons, he built up a successful company, which owned multiple buildings that later were destroyed in a fire.
Jožef on the right together with his brothers Ernst, Lorenz, and Victor
This building was originally built as a furniture store, on the site of an old house with a store owned by the same owner, and due to its larger dimensions, the neighboring house was purchased from the owner Wilhelm Weiss. After the , the building was nationalized, and in March 1948, the Agitprop Printing House moved into the commercial part of the building. A reconstruction was carried out between 2003 and 2007, with the conversion of the attic into business or residential space.
The building visible on an old postcard around 1910
The mansard roof of the attic of the symmetrical building, which is built in the style of Art Nouveau, is crowned with two . The protruded parts that were placed in front of the roof are lavishly embellished with geometric shapes, , , and loads of , which can also be admired elsewhere. The , which separates the attic from the rest of the building, is adorned with in different shapes and sizes. The building contains three , one of which, is larger and supported by two and topped with a roof that contains an motif. The other two oriel windows are topped with and surrounded by balconies, which are all secured with a beautifully decorated wrought iron railing. The building is also beautifully adorned with , which are placed underneath a curvy , as well as vertical and horizontal bands that are embellished with Greek key, or oval-shaped motifs. The second floor windows are flanked by , which are all crowned with a Romanesque .
An old postcard shows the building