The competition brief felt like an almost impossible invitation to refuse: to design a house for architecture, for architects. In shaping the proposed buildings and spaces, we deliberately avoided the commonplace—and ultimately misguided—assumption that our architecture could “represent” the present era or Hungarian architecture as a whole. Instead, we aimed to create an environment that is exciting yet unpretentious; loveable and homely, yet flexible—one that can host the presentation of our architectural past and present, as well as the cultural life connected to it.
The proximity of the cultural institutions lining Városligeti fasor, and the immediate neighbourhood of the Ráth György Villa tucked away across the street, offer strong potential for cultural programmes—of the spirit described above—to intertwine on this site. Our goal was also to extend the boundaries of the intended function and create a place for broader community experiences, open to the general public. We sought to form a protected, park-like setting suitable for active use, longer stays, and meeting—defined by the fabric of compact, closed volumes and the sequences of interior–exterior spaces unfolding between them. We lifted our independently articulated exhibition and event halls above the main level. This both reduces the building footprint and allows the park to flow through the ground floor, which accommodates exclusively public spaces. In good weather—by sliding away the mobile glass walls—this can quite literally dissolve the boundary between outside and inside.
The primary functional spaces were expanded with pyramidal roof forms. Beyond intensifying the spatial experience, these volumes—with skylights set into their tops—help create lighting conditions appropriate to each occasion. The raised forms also make the spatial system legible, establish clear accents, and at the same time integrate the ensemble into its surroundings without conflict. Between the Grünwald and Herczel buildings—both renewed in function—the representative main entrance opens from Városligeti fasor, and is equally accessible from Bajza Street. Finally, the foyer ties together the villa-scale spaces of the new building. In line with the programme, we organised these into four main units: the Lechner Event House, the Ybl Exhibition House, the Kós Café, and the Hild Workshop Hall (Space Box).
Our proposal advanced to the second round and ultimately received a purchase award.
