Ahead of the Champions League final, he began to talk about the jewel in the crown of our built heritage

„The Puskás Arena isn’t exactly a small venue; for many people, it’s associated with a defining football or music experience” – it was with this opening remark, among others, that Krisztina Bombera launched the new KÉSZ Csoport vodcast series. The new channel is linked to a new website showcasing our built heritage, which goes by the name of Built Stories.

Although it is only in its seventh year since its handover in 2019, the Puskás Arena is truly associated with moments of national catharsis: one need only recall Dominik Szoboszlai’s wonder goal in extra time that secured Hungary’s place in the European Championship, scored in the victory over Iceland, or Attila Fiola’s solo goal against the reigning world champions France in the European Championship match in Budapest.

We are given a glimpse into the secrets of legendary buildings

It is no coincidence that we have brought these unforgettable moments to the fore: in its latest initiative, KÉSZ Csoport is shifting the focus from steel and concrete to the stories associated with the buildings themselves.

„In a rapidly changing urban environment, it is becoming increasingly important to consider how we can connect with the buildings that form an integral part of our identity, our collective memory and our everyday lives”

– as the statement puts it, adding that *Built Stories* provides a clear answer to this question.

It’s well worth visiting this newly launched platform, as, in addition to our national stadium, it already offers a glimpse into the secrets of such legendary buildings as the Parliament, the Museum of Applied Arts, the Cifra Palace, Szeged Cathedral and Liszt Ferenc International Airport.

They may appear to be made of nameless walls, but in reality they are made of human stories

Károly Benedikt, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, explained why this approach is so important to the group: „For KÉSZ Csoport, construction does not end with the creation of structures, spaces and façades. We believe that buildings truly come to life when people can connect with them.

With ”Built Stories’, we aim to show that our cities are not made up of faceless walls, but of memories, decisions, shared experiences and human stories. The aim of the platform is to make these layers easily discoverable for everyone.”

On 30 May, Budapest will be at the centre of the football world

The vodcast series linked to the website is also off to a flying start: the first episode focuses on the Champions League final, a football spectacle visiting Hungary for the first time at the Puskás Arena. Róbert Barócsi, Sales and Strategy Director at KÉSZ Csoport, and Gábor Gundel Takács, journalist and sports reporter, explore how a stadium becomes simultaneously an engineering feat, a community space, a shaper of urban identity and a part of the collective memory. The first episode is now available on the Épített Történetek website and the KÉSZ Csoport YouTube channel.

The vodcast series will be hosted by Krisztina Bombera, who has gained some fascinating insights through Épített Történetek. The buildings we pass by every day — whether small or monumental, new or centuries-old, in Budapest or anywhere else in the country — all carry human stories, memories and shared cultural imprints. ”That is precisely why this project is not just about architecture, but about us too,” said the well-known journalist and presenter.