Problematic Heritage

Central European countries, due to their shared historical backgrounds, face similar issues regarding their built heritage. During the two-day international conference, we focused on two important areas of heritage preservation where a shift in perspective is needed in Hungary as well.

Firstly, we sought to find out what tools of successful development exist within sensitive historical environments according to contemporary architectural perspectives, how far we can modify our valuable buildings, and what new architectural techniques can coexist with the memories of the past.

We then aimed to broaden the area of protection, seeking what is valuable and what can be developed in that significant built environment conceived in the post-World War II history of Central Europe. On the second day, visits to emblematic buildings in Budapest related to these two issues made the problems discussed at the conference tangible.

The issues and solutions presented by experts from Hungary and Central Europe provided a comprehensive overview of the ongoing shift in perspective within heritage conservation, which has also become noticeable in Hungary.