About me...
ESTHER SOOS
ART RESTORER TECHNICIAN & SCULPTOR
About me...
PHILOSOPHY
History weaves through our everyday lives, and believe the legacy left by our predecessors deserves to be cherished and preserved. Our work combines a passion for history with creativity and meticulous skill to safeguard cultural heritage.
We use high-quality materials and proven techniques to ensure that every restoration or sculpture meets the highest standards.
HISTORY & WORKS
From my childhood, I was fascinated by Budapest’s rich architecture. My father’s antiquities shop further inspired me to explore history, art, and restoration, leading me to a career where I could both create and preserve.
Studied in the UK (University of Oxford CPD course), and Budapest, Hungary focusing on history as well as decorative and sculptural works, and contributed to a wide range of heritage projects. For reference, these mostly include the Liget Budapest Project, restoring architectural ornaments for the Museum of Fine Arts’ Italian Section, which received the Europa Nostra Award in 2020. Also participated in the National Hauszmann Program, where worked on the reconstruction of the Royal Riding Hall, Buda Castle, helped restore ornamental elements at Budapest Western Railway Station (Nyugati Pályaudvar), including the Marble Hall.
At the Museum of Fine Arts and National Gallery, in cooperation with the National Museum Conservation and Storage Centre (OMRRK), Budapest, assisted with restoration and exhibition preparation for major shows such as Canvas and Cult – Pál Szinyei Merse and Cézanne to Malevich: Arcadia to Abstraction. Beyond restoration and sculpting, have worked internationally, including the Belvedere Salzburg Project, Austria – Neurezidens, cataloguing and preserving Roman Empire artifacts. I continue to expand my experience across private and heritage projects in the UK, Hungary, and Austria, covering sculpture, portraiture, VFX, and decorative restoration, always guided by a respect for historical accuracy and preservation.
More information through the links provided:
Liget Budapest – Museum of Fine Arts
Main Entrance of Budapest Nyugati Station Back to Its Former Glory
Salzburg Museum NEU & Belvedere Salzburg - Salzburg Museum
National Hauszmann Program - Wikipedia
(Exhibitions)
Canvas and Cult. Pál Szinyei Merse (1845—1920) and his Art – Hungarian National Gallery
Cezanne to Malevich. Arcadia to Abstraction – Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Hungarian
This selection is not exhaustive, but it provides insight into some of my key projects, interviews, and publications.
- Restoration of the Emmer Palace’s façade: Budapest100 – Emmer Palace, and Architectural documentation – Hild-Ybl Foundation (Academia.edu)
- Restoration of Budapest, Buddhist Centre at Rózsák tere: Index article and 24.hu article
- Liget Budapest Project: ligetbudapest.hu/en/magazine
- Interview: Indulj el egy úton – Soós Eszter
- Recontstruction, sculptural: Budapest, Magyar Királyi Lovarda rekonstrukciója.
Authors: Dr. Gabor Egri & Esther Soos. Studhist Blog – A budavári Magyar Királyi Lovarda története és rekonstrukciója
The project focuses on the restoration of the Royal Riding Hall in Buda Castle, Budapest, blending neobarokk and Art Nouveau elements. The building, originally designed by Ybl Miklós and later modified by Alajos Hauszmann, was damaged during World War II and demolished during the communist era. The reconstruction, part of the National Hauszmann Program, aimed to faithfully restore the structure, including its ornamental details.
- Restoration of ornamental ironwork, balcony, and supporting pilasters at 2 Jegverem street, Budapest:
Budapest100 – Jégverem utca 2.
- Restoration of the Museum of Fine Arts' Building: Újra régi pompájában látható a 70 éve lezárt Román Csarnok