Orbán-close businessman to build the World Aquatics HQ in Budapest

The World Aquatics will move to Budapest as a result of strong lobbying by the Orbán government. The International Swimming Federation,  formerly known as FINA may move to the Láng-quarter, a planned residential area in the Hungarian capital. Láng-quarter is an investment of Russian-Hungarian billionaire Ruslan Rahimkulov, and it is located in the fancy 13. district.The project of a one billion euro urban quarter, including a two-hectare public park, on the site of the former Láng Machine Factory.

The new headquarters of World Aquatics (WA) – the governing body of water sports – was recently unveiled in Budapest in a colourful presentation – as Népszava reported. The short film showed buildings eerily resembling the old factory block, and the new modern buildings surrounding them, as the new headquarters of the WA. According to the presentation, the complex will also include loft offices, restaurants, VIP areas, swimming pools, diving towers, gyms and accommodation.

Láng machine factory 2021

Read also: World Aquatics to relocate headquarters to Budapest

The government helps to bring the project to life

“The new centre will not focus on offices. When you walk through the doors of the new building, you won’t see the President’s office (…). You will see water. Accommodations, training rooms as close to the water as possible,” explained Hussain al-Musallam, the federation’s president.

However, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, said that the Hungarian government would make the site avaliable free of charge for 15 years and was prepared to grant tax breaks and suspend certain approval procedures.

Read also: World Aquatics headquarters moves to Budapest

Since then, nothing has been revealed about the location or the financial involvement of the Hungarian government. However, the move would start next year, but the new centre could be fully open by 2026-2027.

This fits perfectly into the timetable of the Láng-quarter project in 13. District, launched by Rahimkulov. 

Lured by the Orbán government with various promises of financial burdens – which are unknown yet – WA could be a long-term reliable tenant or a buyer for the interests of a Russian billionaire.

A new neighbourhood is being built

The Orbán government declared Angyalföld as the first Rust Belt Action Area in November 2021 due to its former industrial status. This means the government can provide an accelerated and simplified approval procedure for the project. Last February, Pest County Government Office closed the environmental procedure requested by Southblaze Ltd., who only had a purchase right for the area at the time.

However, The plan is to construct a combined total of 280,000 square metres above ground and 130,000 square metres below ground. Multiple buildings will be erected, with some reaching a height of 65 metres. To meet the mandatory minimum of 25 percent green space between structures, rooftop gardens must be incorporated. Although originally scheduled to commence last year and complete by end-2031, there has been limited progress at the site. At the junction of Váci út and Vizafogó Street, a 65-metre high office building comprising of four distinct towers is currently being constructed. The planning application has identified this structure as the “highlight of the development” in terms of its urban appeal.