The demolition of the Körszálló begins, and in two years time, Budapest’s iconic tower block will be waiting for its new residents in all its glory. An up-to-date luxury apartment building is being built on the site of Hotel Budapest, opened in 1967, which will preserve the cylindrical shape of the hotel, but will be completely reborn inside. The 63-meter building will offer a special panorama and hotel-level comfort. Tima Zoltán, design director of KÖZTI, and László Balassa, deputy CEO of MAM Zrt. also spoke to RTL Fókusz.
Sixty-four meters high, it could not rotate, it was mocked as a “half-hammered nail”, this was the place where Coca-Cola was first available in the capital, it was here that Hofi Géza’s career began, and its history was even intertwined with Roger Moore’s name. Hotel Budapest, commonly known as Körszálló, opened on New Year’s Eve 1967, was undoubtedly one of the defining locations of the capital with its futuristic shape and exciting legends.
The hotel, designed by renowned KÖZTI architect Szrogh György, was built in the urban border zone, at the junction of the Buda Hills and the city. It was intended to be iconic from the start, so everything was in place to create an exciting building. The bold architectural solution, in Szrogh’s own words, formed a 64-meter-high exclamation mark between the apartment buildings and the villa district. The RTL program Fókusz revealed that the Körszálló was considered a very cool place in Budapest, and the capital’s best nightclub also operated here.
The reconstruction of the building will also bring to life architectural elements that Szrogh György dreamed of, but could not be completed at that time due to cost cuts. According to the KÖZTI design, 48 up-to-date apartments will be created in course of the reconstruction, in addition to wellness and fitness facilities, a restaurant, and offices.
The most important aim is to preserve the architectural values of the Körszálló. The circular building is a defining element of Budapest’s cityscape and it is also an important architectural monument. During the transformation, the original building mass and proportions will be preserved, as well as the radial system of columns, the striking, solid exposed concrete and the large glazed surfaces opening to the south and west, as well as the layered ring-like appearance of the facade with its light coloured, striped character.
The demolition and complete renovation of the Körszálló will begin in the summer of 2025. The two-year long project aims to give the iconic building a new function and transform it into a modern residential building that meets the expectations of the 21st century, while preserving its architectural values.
Further interesting facts about the past and future of the building can be found at the link below:
https://rtl.hu/fokusz/2025/07/13/kadari-luxus-kortars-kulonlegesseg-elkezdodik-korszallo-bontas
