Bank Buildings and Representation Phenomenon Selection of the Work of Michal Milan Harminc, Doyen of Slovak Architecture

Abstract

From the point of view of Slovak and Central-European architectural historiography, the issue of architecture of bank buildings in the era of subsiding historicism and ascending modernism has not been researched thoroughly yet. An interesting contribution to this field of architecture is presented by the work of Michal Milan Harminc (1869 - 1864), the doyen of Slovak architecture. His life and work have been the focus of a long term biographical, archival and field research of both authors. Almost 300 architectural works, created 1887 – 1951 in the region of the former Austria-Hungary, later in Czechoslovakia and other successional states (Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine), ranked Harminc to the most productive Central-European architects. Financial institutions present a significant component of his typologically as well as stylishly diverse architectural portfolio. Among his works are included main as well as branch offices of major Slovak institutions ranging from first significant establishments based entirely on Slovak capital/fund to buildings of Tatra banka, which, before the WWII, had ambition to become a central Slovak bank promoting Slovak industry and interests of national-emancipatory movement. By the 1920's, buildings rendered by excellent eclectic architect Harminc gained a monumental character. Representative and solid nature of the architecture of first Slovak bank institutions was expressed by modulation of their façades as well as solid interiors. Harminc proved himself to be a versatile author possessing the sense of adequacy of architectural forms as well as logic of disposition, whether creating in rural or in urban environment. These features were significant for first two creative periods of Harminc's work, emerging from historicism to the position of modern official monumentality.