Margins and Limits of Local Protection in Budapest. Salient Examples and the Case of the Körszálló Hotel

Post-war architecture received little consideration in national listings in Hungary. Instead, local protection has become the favoured means of translating growing recognition into regulatory frameworks. However, the effectiveness of this tool is called into question by the most recent plans, which even involve demolition work. This contribution explores the margins and limits of local protection in Hungary, examining the controversial case of Körszálló in Budapest. The cylinder-shaped hotel built at the foot of the Buda Hills in 1967, was closed in 2025. Despite its local protection status, it was completely demolished. The idea is to comply with local protection by recreating architectural features, while changing the number and height of floors, among other things. Analysing the case of Körszálló, the aim is to identify existing opportunities and issues relating to heritage frameworks in Hungary, with reference to debates surrounding the concept of safeguarding more recent architecture.