PHOTOS: Stunning castle of Buda Castle District to take on its final appearance soon

The Buda Castle District (Budavári Palotanegyed) is one of the many gems of the country, loved by citizens and tourists alike. However, its buildings are not very new: they often need renovations and restorations. The Red Cross headquarters (Vöröskereszt-székház) is no exception. The exterior of the new Red Cross headquarters will take its original form this year, and the building will serve as an office.

History of the Red Cross headquarters

The Red Cross Society bought the building complex in the Buda Castle District at 1-2 Dísz Square in 1900. The magnificent headquarters was designed by two important architects of the time, Alajos Hauszmann and Dezső Hültl, the National Hauszmann Programme wrote on its Facebook page.

Standing on the southeast corner of the square, the palace was an integral part of the Castle District’s skyline until the end of World War II. Although it could have been salvaged after the war and despite the wartime shelling, politicians at the time decided to demolish it completely in 1946. For decades, a neglected lot stood in its place, where an unpretentious flea market operated.

During the siege of Budapest, the building was severely damaged, taking a direct hit. Part of its slabs collapsed, burying many objects of daily use. These were found during an archaeological excavation in 2020, along with an unexploded bomb, PestBuda wrote. The reconstruction of the building started in 2021.

Palace to look like it did in its prime

Source: Facebook/Nemzeti Hauszmann Program

The ornaments on the façade of some parts of the palace is now visible, and the balustrades have been added around the terraces. In the spring, a special covering layer will be applied to the ornamental elements to give the façade a uniform appearance. According to the National Hauszmann Programme, the roof will be finished soon. It is expected that the final decorative elements of the building, the grotesque headpieces adorning the domes, will be put in place during the summer.

In the interior of the Red Cross headquarters, work has begun on the stuccoing of the ceremonial hall, based on the original plans and archive photographs, the Facebook post reads. The exterior of the building, which will be renewed as part of the National Hauszmann Programme, will be a contemporary replica of the original. At the same time, the interior design and building services will be modern.

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