Iconic Hotel Gellért Is being Restored to Its Former Glory

The renovation of the Hotel Gellért complex in Budapest has begun, with the aim of preserving the historic heritage of the building and restoring it to its former glory. The hotel will be operated by the internationally renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, a leading operator of upscale hotels, Világgazdaság reports.

Preliminary plans for the hotel include the creation of 134 guest rooms, including 34 suites, and the reconstruction of three key interior spaces – the lobby, the Danube Room, and the Tapestry Room (Gobelin Room)- largely in their original splendor, based on archival museum photographs and plans.

The interiors were designed by the renowned London design studio Alexander Waterworth Interiors.

In addition to the complete refurbishment of the building, the project aims to integrate new features that will contribute to expanding the range and improving the quality of services, bringing the building back to its “golden age.”

Photo: Wikipedia

The renovation of the Hotel Gellért is both a rescue and a creation of value, emphasized the owners. This project is not only about preserving the past of an iconic building, but also about re-establishing the hotel as a modern, internationally renowned entity in the heart of Budapest.

Zoltán Kecskeméthy, Managing Director of BDPST Real Estate Development, the developer of the project, stressed: “We will pay particular attention to giving Gellért back to the city, respecting its historic heritage while adding modern features and sustainable solutions.”

In the first phase of the renovation, the DVM Group as general contractor will carry out the non-structural demolition and foundation reinforcement works.

A decisive factor in the selection process for the contractor was

the use of no turrets or external waste chutes, thus protecting the building’s façade and the skyline of the city.

The hotel was depreciated before the works: some of the fixtures and fittings were sold to museums, and donated to various institutions.

All demolished materials will be handled in accordance with the relevant regulations. Waste sorting is a priority, therefore materials that are harmful to the environment and health, such as asbestos, are filtered and safely removed on site before they are transported.

The hotel will be operated by the internationally renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, an upscale hotel operator ranked number one in the Best Luxury Hotel Brands 2023 by the US news channel CNBC.

Fact

The Hotel Gellért is a historic Art Nouveau hotel established in 1918, located on the west bank of the Danube in the Hungarian capital. The hotel closed for renovations on December 1, 2021, and is scheduled to reopen in 2027. The Hotel Gellért is connected to the famous Gellért Thermal Bath. Although the hotel and baths were built together, the baths are today independently owned and operated by the City of Budapest and remain in operation during the hotel’s closure.