Can you imagine Budapest without the East-West Business Center? It is hard to believe that this iconic building was once just a vision. Today we will explore the story of the East-West Business Center.
The East-West Business Center stands proudly at Astoria. It sits on the corner of Rákóczi út and Múzeum körút. This places it in the heart of Budapest’s central business district. Its location offers easy access by car and public transport. The M2 metro station is right next to it. Bus lines 7, 7A, 9, and 78 stop here. Tram lines 47, 48, and 49 also serve the East-West Business Center.
Construction on the East-West Business Center began in 1989. It was completed in 1991. Skanska developed this project. It was the first modern office building in Budapest. Soon after completion, Skanska sold it to an international fund.
East-West Business Center has 21000 square meters of office space. This is spread across nine floors. There are also two levels of underground parking. This provides ample space in the city center.
The East-West Business Center marked a turning point. Gulyás Levente described it as representing the positive attitude of the 90s. This optimism reflected Hungary’s transformation during the change of regime.
Lajos Zalaváry designed the East-West Business Center. In 1989, Skanska commissioned KÖZTI to design rentable offices. The location was a vacant lot at the intersection of Rákóczi út and Múzeum körút. Zalaváry, who had won a previous competition for the site was chosen for the job. He worked with three young architects: Györgyi Zoltán, Turi Zoltán and Zoboki Gábor.
The East-West Business Center site has a rich history. In the 16th century, the Hatvani Rondella stood here. It was part of Pest’s medieval city wall. The Hatvani Gate was nearby. The gate was built in the 15th century during the reign of King Matthias. It was demolished in 1808. Remains of the gate lie beneath Astoria’s underpass.
Before the East-West Business Center, the Nemzeti Színház stood here. It opened in 1837. In 1875, the theater was rebuilt. It became part of a unified structure with new buildings on either side. In 1913, the entire complex was torn down due to fire safety concerns.
After demolition, plans for a new National Theater were disrupted by World War I. For nearly forty years, a row of shops stood on the site. In the 1950s, these were removed. The area became a depot for the construction of Metro Line 2. Later, it served as a parking lot.
In 2004, the East-West Business Center was renovated. Despite the changes, the East-West Business Center retained many of its original qualities. The East-West Business Center stands as a testament to Budapest’s growth and transformation. Its history reflects the city’s dynamic spirit.