Guided Tour of the Former OKISZ Headquarters
Designed by Ybl Prize-winning architect János Mónus, the former headquarters of OKISZ (the National Federation of Small Industry Cooperatives, later the Hungarian Association of Industrial Enterprises) was completed in 1974, following the reduction of the plot belonging to the neighbouring Catholic church and monastery. The building was initially designed by Dezső Dúl (1925–2015), who envisioned a high-rise tower for the site. However, the project was eventually handed over to Mónus, who conceived a Brutalist building featuring a striking, multi-level reinforced concrete structure. While Brutalism often brings to mind an out-of-place, ugly concrete monster, the reality is far more nuanced.
Schedule
Mónus deliberately set the 4,150-square-metre, four-storey building back from the street to help it blend in with the one- and two-storey turn-of-the-century villas along Thököly Road. At the time, the building was considered exceptionally modern, while its materials and spatial layout represented true luxury.
The staggered floors, expansive terraces and courtyard are all features more commonly associated with a villa than an office building. It's safe to say that few property developers today would be quite so generous with their use of space.
This attention to detail extends beyond the building's architecture to its interior materials. Unlike many buildings of its era, every material used here was of the highest quality available at the time. Solid wood railings, chrome-plated steel, glass, custom-made door handles and furniture all contribute to the building's distinctive character.
The interiors also hold a number of hidden treasures, from a secret door in the main hall leading to a small room equipped with a bar — once visited by János Kádár himself — to a paternoster lift that remains operational to this day.
Participation in the tour requires the purchase of a supporter ticket, which helps fund the 17th edition of Budapest100.
Choose how much you'd like to contribute to Budapest100:
- Small Step: HUF 10,000
- Big Step: HUF 15,000
- Budapest100 Step: HUF 20,000
Purchase your supporter ticket here: Tixa
Practical information
- Date: 14 November 2026
- Time: 15:00–16:30
- Tour guide: Márta Branczik, architectural historian and museologist
- Maximum number of participants: 20
- Meeting point: Building entrance
- Accessibility: The tour is not wheelchair accessible.
If you have any questions about the tour, please contact [email protected].
Image credit: Fortepan / Tamás Mnyerczán
Budapest
The best things to do in Budapest! Several medieval bridges connect the 2 sides of the city that give it its name: Buda and Pest. Cruising along the Danube is a great way to see Budapest in all its glory.
