The local council of Budapest plans to place nearly one hundred and eighty buildings in Budapest under local protection, which should be further protected and used as part of the architectural heritage. Most of them were built between 1945 and 1980.

As stated in the application, LXXVIII of 1997 on the shaping and protection of the built environment law gives authority. The local government decree 30/2017 on the protection of the settlement image provides an opportunity for local protected buildings to be granted local protection on the basis of special professional aspects of the exploration and accounting of architectural heritage, and according to the local government there are many such buildings. All over Budapest. 

Hilton's modern building that would receive local protection (Photo: Both Balázs / pestbuda.hu) 

Among the nearly 180 facilities that have just been announced are, among others, the main building of the Southern Railway Station, the building of the Hilton Hotel in Hess András square, Szentháromság square 7-8. former diplomat house - on which we wrote in the days, and where the Pallas Athene Domus Meriti Foundation's conference center is built partly with building reconstruction - built on the site of the Buda Castle demolished after the war houses all of the residential complex, the Széchenyi Hill Children's railway station buildings, 2nd district Körszálló or the VERTESZ office building on Fehérvári út.

The Óbuda Experimental Housing Estate, born in the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the buildings of the housing estate on Fiastyúk Street and the small housing estate on Lehel Street would also receive local protection.  The majority of the buildings proposed for protection are residential buildings, but there are health facilities and former party headquarters in the 2nd district and Csepel, the reconstruction of industrial facilities, a bistro, a school, a former workers' hostel in Csepel and the Hungarian Theater in Hevesi Sándor Square, completed in 1966, were also completed. Among the houses to be protected in the draft are modern buildings built after the war. The current amendment applies to Annexes the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 11th,12th, 13th, 14th,15th, 16th., 18th, and 21st districts.  

The station buildings of the Széchenyi-hegy Children's Railway would also be protected (Photo: hegyvidek.hu)

The main building of the Southern Railway Station in 1975 (Photo: Fortepan, Uvaterv)

In the appendix to the submission, we can read that the main purpose of the decree is “to protect the outstanding elements of the architectural heritage that determine the cityscape and history of Budapest, and to preserve its characteristic character for future generations”.

According to the explanatory memorandum, “protection may prevent the dismantling of architectural values and interventions that would interfere with the realization of architectural values. The preservation of the buildings proposed for protection can have a positive effect on the development of the cityscape, ”we can read in a document published on the website of the local council of Budapest.

The entire Óbuda Experimental Housing Estate would also be under local protection (Photo: mapio.net)

As described by Zoltán Erő, the chief architect of Budapest, the Urban Planning Department is conducting an investigation throughout the capital to determine which properties have not yet been protected but are worthy of it. 

In connection with the declaration of protection, a public forum will also be held, where the results of professional examinations will be presented to those interested.

The public forum will take place on 20 January at 3 pm in the ceremonial hall of the City Hall (Budapest, 5th District , Városház street 9-11. 1st floor), those wishing to take part in the event must apply by e-mail, letter or from the local council customer service.

Cover photo: Hilton hosted shortly after handover in 1979 (Photo: Fortepan, ETH Zurich)