We received the design work for the new headquarters of the Hungarian auto club (Magyar Autóklub) by winning a design competition, in which it was important for the client to createa simple but emblematic building in line to join the other European auto club headquarters.
Our competition offered to create a sculpture-like building in an intricate environmentexploiting the freestanding built-in, the notion is based on a simple gesture: a backfoldingsolid ribbon glazed on both sides. We did not anticipate on winning this commission onaccount of the buildings’ specific form, but eventually the plan was initiated without theconcept being violated. It was confirmed that the simpler the building’s appearance is, themore attentive work is necessary. The thickness of the approximately one-meter broad ribbonwhich forms the curling arch varies, and as it ascends it also shifts sideways. As a result of this, the vertical section containing the elevator and stair shafts does not arrive in the sameplace and with the same width where and how it initially began.
The material choice for thetwo key elements — the shell and the enclosed box — is in line with the initial idea: the shellis a metal-covered reinforced concrete belt without breakthroughs. Inside, on both sides thereis a seven-storey-high glass curtain wall which bounds the inner space. The shell is undisturbed by superstructures or shafts, this appearance is enabled by the innovativegeothermic energy supply, which was a new technology at the time. Customer service spacesare located on the ground floor, additional customer service offices and internal usage officesare located above and a large roof terrace is placed on the top floor beneath the arch. The building stands next to the newly-planned Danube bridge axis, so with time it can become a characteristic point of arrival, the gate of Újpest. When considering the installation, we tookin mind the geometric parameters as well.
