It is planned to reinstate the statues that have previously stood on the St. George's Square, giving them a worthy and permanent home.Continue reading
The reconstruction of the dome of the former Defense Headquarters has been completed, one of the most significant and spectacular elements of the building, reads the National Hauszmann Program’s social media page.
The scaffolding has been removed recently, and after eight decades, visitors can now admire the 15-meter high and nine-meter wide roof ornament in its final form, with its peak rising more than 50 meters above Dísz Square.
The roof ornament’s decorative galvanized sheet metal covering can now be seen, the lantern and the top ornament that adorn the dome have been replaced, and the four griffin birds that symbolically protect the building have been returned to their final positions, they said. The statement added that the dome is distinguished by the fact that the surfaces between the supporting arches have been covered with a diagonal pattern of glass.
This not only gives the dome a spectacular appearance, but also allows visitors to enjoy the unrivalled panoramic view from the platform inside the dome.
Designed by Mór Kallina at the end of the 19th century, the building suffered heavy damage during the Second World War. Although the dome remained standing after the battles, the communist authorities decided, for ideological reasons, to demolish the building up to the first floor. As part of the National Hauszmann Program, the revived Defense Headquarters will be open to the public and will be home to the Military History Institute and Museum.
Featured image via Pixabay