Béla Blum

Béla Blum (1889-1942) was a Hungarian architect and urban planner. He is primarily known for his work in social housing and urban development in Hungary during the interwar period and the early years of World War II. Blum was a proponent of functionalist architecture and sought to improve living conditions for working-class families through well-designed and affordable housing.

His work often incorporated green spaces and community facilities, reflecting a broader vision of urban planning that prioritized the well-being of residents. He was a key figure in the development of several housing estates in Budapest and other Hungarian cities.

Blum's career was cut short by the Holocaust. As a Jewish man, he was persecuted by the Nazi regime and its Hungarian collaborators. He was deported and murdered in 1942. Despite the brevity of his career, Béla Blum left a significant legacy in Hungarian architecture and urban planning, remembered for his commitment to social responsibility and modernist design principles. His contributions continue to be studied and recognized for their impact on the built environment and the lives of ordinary Hungarians.