Regional planner Péter FARAGÓ said about the former Váti, terminated in 2014, that “Váti is not a workplace, but a way of life”. Indeed, everything from spatial research to urban planning, historic building conservation and architecture came together here on a daily basis. It was a professional workshop with an unparalleled overview. There is nothing like it today. During my 40 years there, I had the opportunity to introduce and develop the Cultural Heritage chapter in the National Spatial Plan. Only there could I have received the task of World Heritage nominations. 

Keywords: cultural landscape, UNESCO World Heritage, Fertő Cultural Landscape, Tokaj Wine Region

European historic monument protection was not originally based on economic and material considerations. Key concepts were and are “authenticity” and “integrity”. Interventions to ensure, preserve and maintain physical existence are also essential. Changes in users’ needs over time, including community and societal expectations, may require more significant adaptation/restoration interventions, which reach beyond the “technical need” associated with conservation. Our age is characterized by the strong appearance of the need for visuality, visual cognition. The restoration of monuments is an architectural work, it takes place within the framework of monument protection with a fundamentally cultural basis, but as an architectural activity. The respect and preservation of the construction periods of a given monument (regardless of the changes in function!) is one of the most important principles, the restoration itself is a construction/historic period. The obviously anachronistic critique of the historic monument restorations of the “modern era” which we are experiencing more and more today. Essentially, almost regardless of why the restoration should be restored again – for the purpose of the technical deterioration and unsustainability of the previous condition, possibly to make it suitable for a new purpose, or to increase the tourist attraction of the historic monument. 

Keywords: conservation, restoration, authenticity, integrity, changes, contemporary architecture, presentism

In Hungary, built heritage protection and conservation is achieved on three levels: local authorities ensure local protection status to sites important for their communities, buildings with outstanding value on a national level are listed as historic buildings, while values to be preserved for humankind in general might be included in the World Heritage List. The Fertő-Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape is part of the internationally recognised World Heritage since 2001. Besides the treasures of nature, the value of this transnational area is also given by its built heritage, which consists of the relationship between the villages and the surrounding landscape, the traditional building stock of the settlements, and the rich set of historic buildings. The different social and economic conditions and the distinct policy framework in the Austrian, respectively Hungarian part pose diverse challenges to Hungarian and Austrian experts. 

The study presents the architectural features of the World Heritage Site’s Hungarian part, the threats to the preservation of its values, and the proposals to address these threats to be included in the Management Plan. 

Keywords: World Heritage Site, Outstanding Universal Value, management plan

The Franciscan Church and Cloister in Gherla is a Baroque historic building, iconic for the Transylvanian art of the 18^th century. The technical condition of the building has deteriorated significantly over time caused by violent historical events coupled with insufficient maintenance according to the possibilities of the communist and post-communist period, so major rehabilitation works were needed. The architectural-artistic conservation processes combined with the performance requirements defined by the current national technical standards have made it necessary to choose complex consolidation interventions. The strengthening was carried out with contemporary systems, using an important range of composite materials available on the market. The article features the practical application of various technologies, according to the structural configuration and original materials of the historic structure (fibre-reinforced natural hydraulic lime-based (NHL) mortars used for masonry vaults, strengthening bands made from fabrics which reinforced existing masonry walls, high-strength carbon fibre cords used for tie beams). 

Keywords: Franciscan Monastery, Gherla, contemporary structural strengthening, fibre-reinforced mortars, strengthening bands made from fabrics, carbon fibre cords

The obituaries I have read are usually accurate and professional collections of data, which sum up or put together the lifetime achievements of the expert to remember. I usually don’t manage to write such recollections. Regarding Csaba, at first, I thought to write my memorial in Romanian, hoping that this would help me to remain detached. Then I kept postponing writing for months, since every time I wanted to start, instead of data, I saw the nice, quiet, cooperating, humorous, open-minded friend and colleague, I became overwhelmed by memories, and it caused a great pain. I couldn’t put down a word. Finally, I decided to return to our mother tongue.