The installation of the façade elements of the Archduke Joseph Palace is well under way

The Archduke Joseph Palace may be rebuilt as part of the National Hauszmann Programme, the Archduke Joseph Palace will be rebuilt, with Magyar Építő Zrt. acting as the general contractor. The reconstruction of the building, which was blown up in 1968 for ideological reasons, began in July 2021.

"We are restoring the exterior facade and roof of the building to the original plans. The interior spaces will include a staircase of unrivalled beauty and a raised banqueting hall, which will be rebuilt in 2026 with a contemporary look but using 21st century techniques"

– writes the National Hauszmann Programme on its social media page. As their latest report reveals, the reconstruction of Archduke Joseph's palace is proceeding according to plan, with the contractor currently working on installing the façade elements and completing the roof.

Closure elements now crown the unusually complex roof

Most recently, nearly six months ago, we reported on the status of the palace's construction. At that time, special attention was paid to the roofing, which the contractors have now almost completed. The reborn palace of Archduke Joseph now stands at its original height, and following the completion of the structural work, the contractors were able to start work on the roof last year.

A total of 3,000 square metres of roofing was constructed, consisting of 27 different planes, with a 40×40 cm rhombus roof on the steeper parts and a double pitched roof on the smaller pitches.

"At the meeting of the roof planes, the experts have already placed the real edges of the building, the galvanized sheet metal spine elements ending in flame motifs, and have also fitted the top ornaments in their final position"

- say the National Hauszmann Programme in a statement.

A mixed façade is born

One of the most interesting phases of the palace's rebirth is underway: the installation of the façade elements. As the report shows:

The carved limestone is fixed to the plinth of the building using a traditional method, but a new technology is used to install a ventilated and lightweight cladding system over the plinths, mounted on heavy-duty brackets.

The façade already features lion-skin patterned ornamentation, window sills with masks and ribbon decoration, winged lions, eagles and corner finials, and arched cornices. The future home of the Constitutional Court will thus become an integral part of Budapest's skyline, not only because of its historical continuity, but also because of its architectural value.