The nearly 300-year-old complex of the Carmelite Monastery in Buda Castle is a defining element of the Palace District situated between the Royal Palace and the historic civic quarter. During the renovation of the building, which had served administrative and cultural functions for more than two centuries, it was transformed into the new headquarters of the Prime Minister’s Office. The project therefore had to meet the requirements of a protected historic setting, contemporary governmental operations and official state protocol.

The existing building follows the classical organisation of a monastery, with wings and cloister corridors arranged around an internal courtyard. Its rigid spatial structure and the constraints inherited from its original monastic function presented a considerable design challenge. Modern office requirements and specialised technologies had to be integrated without compromising the historic character of the building. Mechanical, electrical and other technical systems were therefore concealed within the structure in accordance with heritage conservation principles.

The history of the former church wing is particularly complex. At the end of the 18th century, it was converted into a theatre with a timber structure, and during alterations carried out in the 1970s, the interior was divided by reinforced-concrete floor slabs. As part of the renovation, these slabs were removed, the blocked-up church windows were reopened, and the original full-height volume was restored. The resulting ceremonial hall is suitable for official functions as well as cultural and social events.

A new office building complementing the governmental functions was constructed on the vacant plot beside the historic complex, replacing an earlier building demolished after the Second World War. Its interior provides a practical setting for everyday administrative work, while its external appearance is defined by a durable, stone-clad architecture designed to harmonise with the character of the Castle District. By respecting the site’s historical layers while accommodating contemporary use, the renewal provides an appropriate setting for a major public institution.