During our planning work, we often come across tasks that involve the redesigning and reconstruction even of historic buildings. In the past years, our team has acquired a great deal of experience in this genre.
In connection with this, we offer the surveying of existing buildings, examining their condition, planning related to refurbishment, consultation, organisation as well as wide-ranging management services in this connection.
Special features of planning related to building refurbishment
Just like all planning tasks, here too the planning activity starts with studying the legal environment. The local authority’s town development planning and construction regulations and the zoning plan contain the concrete prescriptions and limitations relating to the given building. In the case of a historic building, the local regulations stipulate the precise scope of protection, the elements of the building that have to be preserved (cityscape, architectural and applied art elements).
Preparatory work
In case of existing buildings, special emphasis must be placed on recording the existing condition (building survey) and determining the original condition. Our highly qualified specialist engineer team, including structural engineers (as well as archaeologists, restorers and applied artists, if necessary), is capable of drawing up the complete professional survey documentation of any existing building.
The work starts with research into the building’s history and the circumstances of its construction, with the involvement of the Heritage Protection Office, if necessary.
In addition to recording the geometry of the building, the status survey includes building diagnostics examinations. It is exceptionally important to precisely determine the condition of the supporting structure, to perform a foundation excavation and carry out dynamics, building physics and condition inspections of the supporting structures; this is the only way we can make a responsible decision about restoration, reinforcement of structures and even about any demolition work.
Besides supporting structures, the building survey extends to examining the condition of water insulation, wall heat insulation as well as building engineering and electrical systems, the flooring and wall surfaces and to the condition of the decorative elements of the building.
A specialist opinion is then prepared as a result of the various diagnostics procedures, which extends to all relevant circumstances.
The survey and demolition plans may be created in either 2D or 3D format, as required, with the amount of detail according to the specific planning stage.
Construction supervision
As often there are no set patterns for existing buildings, fast and innovative solutions must be followed. Therefore, supervision requires particularly great attention.
It is a basic requirement to continuously check the current plans and compare them regularly with the actual status.
Building refurbishment
Reconstruction, energy-related refurbishment
One of the basic cases of building refurbishment is reconstruction, in other words modernisation or renewal, where the objective is to create a building that meets today’s changed needs without altering the building’s function.
Reconstruction may take place within the façade of the building, usually involving building engineering modernisation, or with façade renovation and the renovation of the doors and windows.
The projects we have carried out involved the re-planning and renovation of façades within the scope of the energy-related refurbishment of public buildings and schools.
Building extensions
Extending existing buildings is a frequent requirement of property owners. This may be implemented together with or independently of the internal and external refurbishment or reconstruction of the existing building. Our projects have included the extension of the German and Indian Embassies in Budapest.
A special type of extension is the addition of extra storeys to city-centre apartment and mansion buildings and their refurbishment involving a change of function. We have drawn up numerous such plans, among them plans for District V hotels in Hold utca and Tüköry utca.
Refurbishment of historic buildings
Historic buildings represent the greatest challenge in refurbishment. The refurbishment of a historic building for contemporary use requires exceptional know-how and knowledge of the structures, materials and way of thinking of the time. Along with this, understandably this type of work falls under strict regulations. Planning must be carried out in close collaboration with the Heritage Protection Office.
Our projects have included the refurbishment of the Gerbaud Office Building in the Budapest city-centre on Vörösmarty tér, the refurbishment plans of the Várkert Bazár, the façade and roof reconstruction of the Wellisch Palace, the former Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, performed in connection with the renewal of Kossth tér, and the refurbishment and renovation of the Ballet Institute (Dreschler Palace) on Andrássy út.
Revitalisation of industrial and agricultural buildings
It is well worth preserving the unique cultural, monument and aesthetic values of old industrial buildings created with a great sense of art. In connection with the revitalisation of inner city industrial zones, these grand spaces may be put to excellent use for cultural and administrative functions.