The Wagner family is an old-established, respected merchant family in Szeged. The Art Nouveau mansion in Kölcsey Street was designed for the family by Lipót Baumhorn in 1905. The fact that the other properties in Kárász Street continuing the plot were also owned by merchant Gusztáv Wagner became an important factor in the construction of the new building. Lipót Baumhorn was again commissioned to design the so-called “New Wagner Mansion”, in which he used reinforced concrete slabs. The three-storey residential building was built in 1910-11. The middle courtyard of the typical U-shaped building block was opened to the public. In the two symmetrical wings, the floors could be accessed from four staircases with elevators, which led to narrow courtyards. The building consisted of 31 apartments that had two to five rooms, all with bathrooms. In the attic there was a laundry room and a mangle. The elevator was a novelty in private houses in Szeged; the first application for a permit was submitted by Gusztáv Wagner for the Feketesas Street mansion in February 1911. The original structure of the elevators, as well as their woodwork and the engraved glasses have remained intact and are still in use today. The staircases have stained glass windows decorated with Art Nouveau motifs (birds, beetles); however, they are unmarked. On the ground floor shops were opened along the street front and warehouses were set up in the cellar. On May 6, 1911, the Vass Motion Picture Theatre began screening here, with performances in two rooms until 1920.
The facade of the building shows the features of geometric Art Nouveau, its doors and windows are all rounded or chamfered. There are only a few small, non-accentuated balconies on the facade. Among the plaster decorations we can find checked patterns in several places. Longer facades overlooking the courtyard are divided by avant-corps with pediment. The unique, decorative element of the building is the robust female headpiece above the gateway, which reflects the influence of Vienna and Berlin Art Nouveau. The wrought iron works show Antal Kecskeméti’s excellent craftsmanship.