Blog

Articles on historic preservation, building renovation, and design – The blog of architect Ágnes Molnárné Kőfalvi.

Frequently asked questions

When must a technical inspector be involved in construction?
For listed historic buildings, as well as permit-required investments implemented from public funds, the appointment of a technical inspector is mandated by law. For all other construction and renovation projects, I also recommend it, because an independent professional on the client's side monitors the quality of construction and the fulfillment of the contract.

The assignment is most useful if it takes place even before selecting the contractor: this way I can help both in comparing the offers and in the content of the contract, not just in checking work already started.
The official certificate is a verification by the building authority regarding specific characteristics of an existing building or part of a building – for example, whether its intended use complies with the contents of the application.

I undertake the full management of the procedure: I assess the property, compile the necessary documentation, submit the application, and carry out the administration with the authority.
The documentation value inventory is a professional assessment of the heritage values of a listed or locally protected building: archival and on-site research, surveying, photographic documentation, followed by a detailed description of individual architectural, structural, and artistic values.

This provides the reliable basis for further planning, determining the scope of the renovation, and official consultations: the inventory reveals what must be preserved at all costs and where there is room for maneuver.
Yes, a professional inspection can also be requested before buying a property. In such cases, I assess the technical condition of the building during an on-site visit, examining visible defects, their probable causes, and the renovation tasks that can be expected.

The same investigation is also useful before renovation: the preliminary professional opinion reveals which works are worth starting with and what needs to be paid attention to in the case of a listed building.
We begin with a face-to-face or phone consultation, during which we discuss your vision, the characteristics of the lot or building, and the regulatory requirements. This is followed by an on-site visit.

I will submit a proposal for the task assembled in this way, and following the agreement, the concept design will be prepared. Upon its approval, the permit or construction documentation will follow, and finally, the official administrative procedures.

I design single-family homes in collaboration with my husband, who is an architectural engineer, and I also contribute to projects involving protected buildings in my capacity as a historic preservation engineer.

Do you have any further questions?

Please feel free to call or email me, and we can discuss how I can help you with your building.