The villa located at 81 Hűvösvölgyi út in Buda is not only an architectural value, but also a cultural symbol. It fits in with the Buda Citizen Books II. series, such as the Dohnányi Garden, the Hungarian Holy Land Building Complex or the Ferenchalm Virgin Mary Chapel. The building, surrounded by a garden of ancient trees and a fish pond, exudes an exceptional atmosphere.
The history of the villa is closely intertwined with the memory of the writer Antal Szerb. On the 75th anniversary of his death, a memorial plaque and a stumbling block were placed in front of the building. Currently, the Munka-Kör Foundation for the Hearing Impaired operates in the property, while its upper floors serve as residential functions.
The building's complexity and intellectual aura are total work of art can be described as: an artistic entity in which architecture, landscape architecture, history and social responsibility complement each other. In recent years, the villa has also attracted the attention of institutions such as the Office of the President of the Republic, which has expressed appreciation for the social responsibility of the foundation operating within it.
Antal Szerb's approach to literature and concept of culture fundamentally determined Hungarian intellectual life. Hungarian literary history In his work he writes:
"The Hungarian spirit is an inherently civilizing product, created by restrained passions and a triumphant consciousness."
His cultural history work had literary, sociological, psychological and ethnographic demands at the same time. Antal Szerb's synthesizing thinking enabled him to create one of the most comprehensive and readable summaries of Hungarian literary history.
His monograph traces his personal connections, loves, and philosophical insights, with a special focus on the relationship between human feelings and culture. He took a critical approach to even sensitive topics such as the philosophy of love, opening up new horizons in cultural interpretations.
The current use of the villa is in the spirit of community value creation. The Munka-Kör Foundation for the Hearing Impaired works for equal opportunities not only for the hearing impaired, but also for people with disabilities in general. The Foundation's activities were also praised by the Directorate of Social Relations of the Office of the President of the Republic in 2013, and in 2019 it was represented at an international HORECA professional forum, the aim of which was to develop vocational training curricula for people with disabilities.
In 2018, the Foundation actively participated in At the Sixth Disability Science Conference , which took place under the theme "Diversity as a social value". The event was supported by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, on the occasion of Science Day.
The villa's garden won the title of "The Most Beautiful Garden in District II" in 2021, as part of the "Buda, our Home" program organized by the Mayor's Office. The garden's special atmosphere is completed by the ornamental fish pond, the ancient tree vegetation and the carefully maintained park. The cultural significance of the villa is further enhanced by the support of cartoon director, graphic artist and cultural historian Marcell Jankovics. Marcell Jankovics also recorded his contribution in writing when he allowed the Munka-Kör Foundation to distribute the cartoons he directed, marked and subtitled, for the hearing-impaired public.
