Imre Makovecz

Imre Makovecz's Hungarian Pavilion is a timber structure on Isla de la Cartuja in Seville, designed for the Expo '92 World's Fair by Hungarian architect Imre Makovecz.

What is this building?

Makovecz received the commission in 1989, with the formal assignment confirmed in autumn 1990, and construction was finished in time for the exhibition's opening in 1992. The architect was a leading figure of Hungarian organic architecture, a movement that treats a building as something that grows out of its surroundings rather than dominating them. The pavilion was meant to be temporary and torn down once Expo closed, but its unusual form and symbolic weight meant no one ever went through with demolishing it. It has stood in Seville for more than three decades and is now regarded as one of the most original structures built for the entire fair, often compared in its expressive energy to the work of Antoni Gaudí.

How do you get there?

The building sits on Isla de la Cartuja, the former Expo '92 exhibition grounds on the opposite bank of the Guadalquivir from Seville's historic center. The easiest way in from downtown is by city bus or bicycle — riverside cycling paths lead directly onto the island. On foot from Triana or Plaza de España, expect roughly a 25 to 30-minute walk. The pavilion isn't surrounded by dense development, so it helps to plan the route beforehand: the old Expo grounds are spread out, and individual pavilions are scattered across a large area.

What will you see?

The most recognizable feature is a row of seven towers set along a north-south axis, rising from the building's double wall. The western part of the structure represents Western Hungary, the eastern part Eastern Hungary, creating a kind of dialogue between the two halves of the country. The whole thing is topped with a grey slate roof shaped like an upturned hull of a primitive boat. The timber facade and carved details draw on Hungarian village folk building traditions, though the final form goes well beyond any single traditional model. Inside, the skeletal framework echoes the ribs of a human chest, and a glass panel is set into the floor with an oak tree growing beneath it, its roots visible through the glass — a reference to the worlds above and below ground. The detail impressed even Prince Charles (now King Charles III of the United Kingdom), who sent Makovecz a note of congratulations after visiting. In 2024 the building was bought by private businessman Mario López Magdaleno, who carried out a full restoration: damaged slate tiles were replaced, the timber facade and interior elements were refinished, and missing pieces were sourced from Central Europe or custom-made to match the original.

When should you visit?

Seville is most comfortable in spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November), when temperatures stay well below summer extremes. In summer the city gets punishingly hot, which makes extended time outdoors on Isla de la Cartuja unpleasant. Because the pavilion is now privately owned following its recent restoration, it's worth checking current access information before visiting — interior access may be limited, and the building is best seen as part of a walk around the former Expo site.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Hungarian Pavilion in Seville? It's a building designed by Imre Makovecz for the Expo '92 World's Fair, still standing on Isla de la Cartuja today as a lasting monument to organic architecture.

Why does the pavilion have seven towers? The towers are arranged along the building's axis and reference Hungary's historical traditions, dividing the structure into sections symbolizing the western and eastern parts of the country.

Can you go inside the pavilion? Since 2024 the building has been privately owned following a thorough restoration, so public access can vary — it's best to check its current status before you go.

What else is worth seeing besides the towers? The distinctive slate roof shaped like an upturned boat hull, and the interior's skeletal wooden framework with a glass floor panel revealing an oak tree growing beneath it.