The aim of this paper is to examine the process of national identity formation and change. In order to do so, theories of ‘narrative identity’ [Ricoeur 1991] and ‘invented traditions’ [Hobsbawm and Ranger 1983] are used to address issues related to emerging national causes [Castells 1997], transitional countries [Szondi 2007] and EU integration [Pieterse 1991]. The main focus of this paper is the use of built environments as a signifier of national identity, alongside other signifiers such as the language, flag, emblem or anthem. While the expressive power of built environments as a signifier of social, economic or political authority during times of prosperity is widely recognised in the literature [Castoriadis 1987; Zizek 1989; Mayo 1996; Sudjic 2006; Sklair 2010], their role during times of political crisis (such as during times of critical national restructuring) has not been fully studied or theorised [Diamond 2003; Kaika 2010].