Dorottya Udvar, one of the capital's most characteristic A-class office buildings, is located at the end of Bocskai út in the north-western corner of Kelenföld, Budapest. The 28,500 sqm office complex was built in the former military uniform factory in Kelenföld.
The military uniform factory was probably built around 1918, and some sources claim that Italian prisoners of war were used in its construction. As it is a military installation, there is no trace of the original plans in the archives, and the designers are mostly Árpád Gut and Jenő Gergely, two prominent figures of reinforced concrete architecture of the time.
At the end of the First World War, the building became redundant and the state leased parts of the complex to various industrial plants. Some parts of the building were used by chemical and cosmetic manufacturers, while other parts were used by textile and apparel manufacturers.
At the end of World War II, the building complex was severely damaged, but after reconstruction the chemical and textile companies continued to operate.
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From 1985 onwards, Caola Ltd., a cosmetics manufacturer, bought the buildings and by the 1990s became the sole owner of the plant. Caola used only part of the building for production, leasing the rest to manufacturing companies, but there was also operating a techno-disco with a capacity of 1500-2000 young people.
From the mid-1990s, the productive activities in the building declined and by 1998 the building was emptied and stood abandoned for 2-3 years.
American investors bought the building complex and converted it into an A-class office building based on the plans of architect Zoltán Tima. The 28,500 sqm of office space is complemented by a basement garage, car wash and restaurant. The jewel of the complex is the quiet, beautifully landscaped courtyard, which can also host outdoor events and farmers' markets.
1113 Budapest, Bocskai út 134-146, Hungary
