Joseph Fischer (Budapest, April 12, 1901 - Ibid., February 23, 1995) was a Hungarian architect who was a member of the CIAM and one of the leading figures in modern architecture in Hungary. He was also a Social Democratic politician. The son of a printer, Fischer trained at Ármin Krausz's school as an apprentice bricklayer and began studying architecture at the University of Building Trades. In 1926, he obtained his degree as an architect and took charge of the construction of the Császár Baths.
Fischer was the editor of Tér és Forma (Space and Form), a Hungarian modern architecture magazine published between 1928 and 1946. Together with his wife he set up a construction company in 1931. In 1932, he set up an exhibition of Modern Architecture at the Margaret Island, in Budapest.
He participated in World War II and in January 1945, he was appointed Government Commissioner for Reconstruction, he chaired the Budapest Public Works Council, until 1948.
During the 1956 revolution, Fischer's house became a meeting place for Social Democratic politicians, and when the party was re-established, he was elected to its leadership. On November 3, he was appointed Minister of State in the coalition government as the candidate of his party, going underground when the revolution was defeated. He was fired from his job in 1959 and emigrated to the United States in 1965, where he received citizenship in 1969. He worked for various architecture firms there and became a member of the Hungarian group of the International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM). He returned to Hungary in 1978 and retired.
Fischer was the editor of Tér és Forma (Space and Form), a Hungarian modern architecture magazine published between 1928 and 1946. Together with his wife he set up a construction company in 1931. In 1932, he set up an exhibition of Modern Architecture at the Margaret Island, in Budapest.
He participated in World War II and in January 1945, he was appointed Government Commissioner for Reconstruction, he chaired the Budapest Public Works Council, until 1948.
During the 1956 revolution, Fischer's house became a meeting place for Social Democratic politicians, and when the party was re-established, he was elected to its leadership. On November 3, he was appointed Minister of State in the coalition government as the candidate of his party, going underground when the revolution was defeated. He was fired from his job in 1959 and emigrated to the United States in 1965, where he received citizenship in 1969. He worked for various architecture firms there and became a member of the Hungarian group of the International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM). He returned to Hungary in 1978 and retired.
