The 130-room Grandhotel Galya was built as a luxury state investment between 1937 and 1939 during the economic boom of World War II. Located in the highest part of present-day Hungary, it stands in the Mátra Mountains on the northeastern border of the country. Its distinctive building material is andesite, the volcanic rock of the mountains. On its sunny southeastern facade, balconies were lined up, offering an excellent view of the surrounding mountains. They even built a closed shooting range.
During the planning process, we scoured archival photos, blueprints, and periodical articles. We cleansed the current facade of inappropriate materials and structures. The hotel’s material continues to be andesite. The main entrance now boasts a light glass canopy, and the distinguished balconies have been restored to their original size, removing incongruous high-roofed extensions. The new wellness and conference area has been designed using the existing structures and geometry, oriented towards the breathtaking view. We’ve established comfortable, elegant cigar rooms, spacious lobbies, and bars, all evoking the ambiance of hunts and balls from 85 years ago.
