Debrecen4U
May 27, 2025
A series of patinated buildings in downtown Debrecen to be renovated
“In the first week of March, scaffolding was put up on the famous twin palace at the corner of Gambrinus köz and Piac Street in Debrecen, and the reconstruction of the monumental building at the intersection of Szent Anna Street and Batthyány Street began in early May. According to plans, the renovation of additional downtown apartment buildings may begin soon,” Edit Erdei told Dehir.hu.
The CEO of Cívis Ház PLC. said that the beautiful twin palace built in 1912-13 based on the plans of Károly Pavlovics, located in one of Debrecen’s iconic locations, in Gambrinus köz, can soon shine in its former glory. In the apartment building, in which Cívis Ház PLC has a 49 percent ownership stake, the renovation work of the electrical network has been completed, and its technical handover is imminent.
The repair and painting work of the inner courtyard facades is also nearing completion. The slate roofing of the street-facing roof has already been partially dismantled, and lathing work has begun.
The full renovation is expected to be completed by the end of June 2025.
Meanwhile, the shops in the building can operate without interruption. The elevator in the building is also being renovated, for which they received support in the city’s panel programme.
The large-scale renovation of the apartment building under local unique protection, built in 1926-1927, located at 10-12 Szent Anna Street, is also in progress. The investment, which is expected to be completed by May 2026, will include the renovation of the palace’s roof, renovation of the facade and replacement of the windows and doors.
Regarding the investments, Edit Erdei emphasised it is already clear that the renovations are beneficial not only for the cityscape, but also for the owners, as their apartments will increase in value significantly.
Edit Erdei reminded that the local government launched the Built Heritage Renovation Programme in 2024, in the professional preparatory work of which, Cívis Ház PLC also participated. The expert pointed out that the large-scale programme fundamentally contributes to the preservation of the city’s built heritage and the reconstruction of the hundred years old or older buildings that are of decisive importance for the cityscape.
“The city centre is the heart of Debrecen, the determinant of the cityscape, therefore Cívis Ház PLC pays serious attention to renovations in cooperation with the apartment buildings,” the CEO of Cívis Ház PLC emphasised.
In the Built Heritage Renovation Programme, in addition to the renovation of the building on Szent Anna Street, the owner also won HUF 200 million for the renovation of the Svetits tenement house at 43 Piac Street, which accounts for half of the investment costs.
The primary consideration is to restore the original conditions.
“The common feature of both buildings is that they have survived almost in their original, almost in their construction-time condition. They preserve all traces of the building culture between the two world wars,” Chief Architect of Debrecen István Gábor said.
Funds have been allocated for the Built Heritage Renovation Programme in this year’s city budget, and the application will be published on website helyivedett.debrecen.hu.
Source:dehir.hu | Photo credit: Facebook Papp László
