28-07-2025
Why Critics Call Budapest's Buda Castle Rebuild a Land Grab
In the Hungarian capital of Budapest, Prime Minister Viktor Orban is rebuilding and remodeling the Buda Castle district in what the government says is an effort to restore the medieval area to its prewar appearance. However, critics argue the project, estimated to cost at least $590 million, is less about preservation and more of a land grab by the country's nationalist leader.
Architects point to rebuilt structures that look noticeably different from the original, while dilapidated historic buildings have remained neglected in other parts of the city. The controversial project is part of a broader global push to revive historic architecture, driven in part by a trend associating revivalist architecture with far-right values. Read more from architecture critic and contributor Robert Bevan today on CityLab:
