Reconstruction of the Former Royal Hungarian Ministry of Finance

The palace at 6 Szentháromság Square in Budapest’s Castle District was designed by Sándor Fellner and constructed between 1901 and 1904 for the Royal Hungarian Ministry of Finance. The neo-Gothic public building was severely damaged during the Second World War. Its post-war reconstruction removed or simplified much of the original massing, roofscape and architectural decoration.

The reconstruction launched in 2021 aimed to restore the historic character of the building and adapt it as a contemporary government office. The neo-Gothic façades, roofs, towers and principal interiors were reconstructed on the basis of archival drawings, photographs and surviving architectural details.

Within the nearly 40,000-square-metre building, the historic spatial structure and ceremonial rooms had to be integrated with modern offices, meeting areas and supporting functions. New mechanical, electrical, security, information technology and fire-safety systems were installed alongside the restoration of the heritage fabric.

CÉH zRt. provided engineering, project management and technical supervision services. Our work covered technical coordination of design and construction, monitoring of quality, costs and schedules, and professional preparation of decisions on behalf of the client.

The project was particularly complex because new structures and technical systems had to be integrated with the surviving elements of a building that was more than a century old and had already undergone major alterations. Construction of the restored decorative elements, stonework, metal structures, roofs and internal finishes required continuous multidisciplinary cooperation and detailed quality control.

The dense historic environment of the Castle District also shaped construction logistics. Restricted access, material movements, temporary structures and the use of the surrounding public spaces required carefully coordinated planning.

Following reconstruction, the building took on a new role as the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior. The project restored a defining element of the historic enclosure of Szentháromság Square while providing a contemporary working environment for institutional use.

Designer: Hamburg C. Kft.

Designer: ARCH-STUDIO Építészeti Kft.

Main contractor: WEST HUNGÁRIA BAU Kft.

Main contractor: Garage Kft.

Awards and recognition:

• Magyar Ingatlanfejlesztési Nívódíj Pályázat, 2025 – III. díj - (Hungarian Real Estate Development Excellence Award Competition, 2025 – Third Prize)
• Budapesti Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara különdíja, 2025 - (Special Prize of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2025)
• A pályázók szavazata alapján a legjobb projekt, 2025 - (Best Project as Voted by the Entrants, 2025)
• Építőipari Nívódíj, 2025 -(Hungarian Construction Excellence Award, 2025)