The renovation of the Gellért Hotel has already begun - a video recalls the golden age of the iconic building

A new era has dawned for Hotel Gellért, one of Budapest's most famous and beloved historic buildings, as renovation work began in October under the direction of BDPST Group, in accordance with historic preservation regulations. , according to a statement sent to our newspaper.

As previously reported, during the first phase of the renovation, DVM Group as the general contractor will carry out non-structural demolition and foundation reinforcement work. The Hungarian architectural firm, the European-level recognised Hungarian Archikon and the London-based Alexander Waterworth Interiors studio.

They also work from period photos

The building will be the first unit of Mandarin Oriental to open in Hungary and will offer 134 guest rooms, including 34 suites.The hotel's main interiors - such as the Lobby, the Duna Room and the Tapestry Room - will be restored to their former glory based on photos and plans preserved in the museum archives.

Now, investor BDPST Group is once again drawing attention to the hotel, as the company

in its value-creating and value-saving project, it pays tribute to the hotel's golden age with a special teaser video, evoking its past and foreshadowing the time when Gellért will regain its former glory.

A centuries-old jewel of the capital

For centuries, Gellért was one of the jewels of the capital, with its artistic architecture and exceptional atmosphere, a centre of social and cultural life, they emphasise, adding that the teaser video's spectacular images evoke the spirit of that bygone era, drawing parallels with the hotel's current state.

The group's aim is to engage the public in the story of the Gellért's renewal and build on its respect for the past to showcase the future, when the hotel will once again be the pride of Budapest.

Creating and preserving value

The hotel's heyday was in the 1920s. Since then, the building has witnessed many epochs, weathering the storms of war and difficult moments of fateful events, all of which have left their mark on its walls.

Operated as a hotel for nearly 100 years, it finally closed in 2019 with crumbling ceilings and leftover furniture from the 1960s.

BDPST Group aims not only to preserve the historic elements of the legendary building and restore it to its golden age, but also to add new, modern elements to create value and sustainability, they point out. The development is intended to revive an old symbol of Budapest's heritage, which will represent the city in a worthy way on the international stage, while once again becoming a popular meeting point for locals and visiting travellers.