Matei Corvin House or „Mehffy House” is a town building in the Gothic style of the fifteenth century (now ”Ion Andreescu“ University of Art and Design). In this house – inn of the town at that time – was born on the 23 of February 1443, Matthias Corvinus (Matei Corvin), son of the great ruler of Transylvania, Ioan of Hunedoara. Matei Corvin was the greatest king of Hungary (1458-1490), scholar, patron of the arts, wisdom and law, is mentioned today in songs and legends. In 1467, Matei Corvin exempted the owners of the house where he was born to pay taxes to the city, this privilege is reinforced by the kings and princes that have followed.
Matei Corvin House has had various destinations, including that of a college, but has also housed the ethnographic collections of The Transylvanian Carpathian Society.
Over time, the building has undergone many changes and modifications adapted to new architectural styles. The basement and a series of window and door frames, lintels in oblique section, are characteristics of the Gothic style.
In the first half of the sixteenth century appear the Renaissance elements – Renaissance facade, few frames with denticules, with Gothic elements and the broken arch of the portal of entry to the property and original vaults have been largely replaced.
In the eighteenth century inside the building got installed a hospital and in the yard were made a series of transformations in baroque style. In the late nineteenth century, the building, located in an advanced state of disrepair, was restored, introducing many elements of the Style 1900 (Art Nouveau, Secession), fashionable at the time. In the 50s of the last century, changes in style 1900’s, incompatible with the architecture of the building were removed, the building getting the current appearance.
Location
Matei Corvin House in Cluj Napoca is located on the street with the same name at number 6. Located in old city center, near the Museum Square, at the crossroads: Matei Corvin, Virgil Fulicea, Sextil Puscariu.
Matei Corvin Street was transformed into a pedestrian zone, where often are organised exhibitions with objects produced by traditional Romanian and Hungarian small craftsmen.
