Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg has won two prestigious FIABCI awards for the reconstruction of the historic buildings in the city centre of Kőszeg within the framework of the national Kraft program.

At the ceremony held on 28th of November 2022, the Hungarian Committee of FIABCI (the International Real Estate Federation) has given the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg two significant awards. Having redeveloped seven iconic properties in the heart of the medieval town of Kőszeg, iASK has proudly won the first prize in the category “City Dimension” and the special Attila Kovács Memorial Award.

The awards are a significant achievement for iASK’s signature Kraft program. The remarkable efforts to restore and revitalize Kőszeg’s most outstanding historic buildings have now been recognised by the most prominent real estate institution in the world. Founded 71 years ago, FIABCI has earned an enviable reputation and represents the world’s real estate professionals through its Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations Organisation. In Hungary, the organisation operates since 1997 and has established the renowned Hungarian Real Estate Development Award for Excellence Competition.

The concept of “Creative City, Sustainable Region” (Kraft) has been rewarded for its astonishing achievements in regional development that includes 7 beautifully refurbished buildings: the Benedictine Convent, the Europe House, Festetics-Chernel Palace, Sgraffitos House, Szemző House, Zwinger-Old Tower and the 19^th-century Synagogue.

Kraft was founded in 2012 by the Institute for Social and European Studies Foundation (ISES Foundation), based on the ideas of Ferenc Miszlivetz. In 2014, the Government of Hungary decided to support the detailed elaboration of the Kraft program as a national program – the new regional development strategy based on the example of the city of Kőszeg. The ISES Foundation was then asked to prepare a feasibility study that included a plan for an “advanced studies” institute. The Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg was established in 2015 with the Kraft concept at the core of its values, principles and activities.

The “Creative City – Sustainable Region” (Kraft) program is an integrated urban and rural development concept seeking new ways of releasing and innovatively connecting creative social energies. The Kraft concept draws on, uses, and utilises already existing values for the future. The first specific development and a model example of this concept is the town of Kőszeg, which has a unique built heritage, school town identity, and long-standing cultural, professional, and religious communities. Thanks to Kraft’s achievements, Kőszeg has become an important scientific research hub and a centre of experience tourism.

The applicants are available HERE.

Some photos about the ceremony are available by clicking on the image (the source of the photos is the official site of FIABCI Hungary):