Bakáts Square Church Renovation, Budapest

Architect: Gábor Kruppa
Text: Zoltán Dragon
Photos: Zoltán Nemes

The final renovation of the Bakáts Square Church in Budapest, consecrated in 1879 and designed by Miklós Ybl, was carried out in two stages between 2016 and 2022. What makes the renovation of the church special is its ownership (it is in possession of the Hungarian state), its condition (it has never been in a badly deteriorated state) and the approach taken during the renovation project. The guiding principle of the reconstruction work was to create harmony: the touristy appearance was subordinated to liturgical use. Except in one case: chairs were installed in the quadrangle instead of new pews, as the church is often used for concerts and this space is filled by members of the orchestra. In order to recreate the harmonious state of the church prevailing at the end of the 19th century, the existing decorative and artistic features were carefully reconstructed and repositioned in accordance with Miklós Ybl’s designs. The light, modern frontal altarpiece and ambo, erected after the Second Vatican Council, were removed, and architect Gábor Kruppa, by using a model from the fortunately preserved furniture of the sacristy, created a new wooden altar table and stand with marble inlay. The concept of the reconstruction project can best be described in the relationship between the confessional chair, which was made when the church was built and is now at the end of the two faux transepts, and the simplified confessional, harmonising with the existing previous ones: the new one does not take away, but only complements, more precisely: carefully adds. In other words, the restoration has removed the dust but preserved the patina.

Owner: State of Hungary
Client: Esztergom-Budapest Diocese
Leading architect: Gábor Kruppa – HAMBURG C
Architect: Alida Szakolczai
Electrical engineering: János Petkovics
Monument history survey: Tamás Horogszegi
Wall painting restoration: Györgyi B. Juhász