Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a stunning architectural gem steeped in history. Yet many people will have visited as part of a party for a major life event, frequenting and sampling its unique nightlife. The main attraction here for many is its ruined garden buildings, known as ‘kerts’. So what defines them and how can you turn your outdoor space into one?
What Is a Garden Kert?
Budapest has some outstanding buildings, usually constructed between 1880 to 1930. Many followed a pattern: Built around a central courtyard, apartments, and offices would start at the ground floor and move up over five floors. Each level would be decorated in Victorian, Art Deco and Art Nouveau flourishes depending on the time period.
Many of these delightful buildings fell into disrepair in the mid-20th century. By the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Hungarian independence in the early nineties, even more were derelict. Innovative entrepreneurs began to move into the courtyard spaces, setting up bars, restaurants, and live music spaces. They would be filled with whatever interesting items they could find, decorated rustically, even graffitied, and become the city’s ruin gardens, known as ‘Kerts’.
Getting the Kert Look
The opus of all Kerts is the place known as Szimpla. It has consistently been voted one of the best nightlife spots in Europe, and this is partly down to its eclectic decor. Enter its doors and find bare brick walls, plastered with fairy lights and the scrawl of tourists long departed. Old fairground rides are makeshift seats, with the shells of Soviet-era cars turned into benches and raised flowerbeds. Mannequins hang down from the ceiling, while mismatched lighting casts a warming glow on them.
The joy of getting the Kert look is that you can have some fun finding items to fill it with. Try to get a mix, including some that would be traditionally used indoors, some larger items, and then unique seating and chairs.
Old fairground equipment and items from amusement arcades or casinos are always a good choice. Aging mechanical slot machines will provide a great focal point, as they have grown in popularity due to the proliferation of online slots. With information on the best slot machines to play along with the basic concepts and rules behind them being so easy to find online, a real vintage machine could be fairly intuitive for many modern guests to handle, as well as just being cool to look at. By installing some classic equipment like this, you will quickly see clued-up guests gravitate towards it and make endless conversation about it throughout the night.
Give it Time
Despite the most careful arrangement of your objects, it may look like you have dumped a load of trash in your garden at first. However, the key is to give it time. All of these kerts have age on their side. Plants grow through the items there, creepers work their way up the walls through the decorations. This is part of the appeal, so pick some plants that will work alongside the decor and wait a few seasons for the magic to take hold.
Finally, when the sun hits your garden, invite friends around. They will be sure to love your quirky outdoor space. Fire up the barbeque, get the goulash cooking, and enjoy Budapest from your garden.
