In the brow field area of Budapest, an old, once factory building got a second chance. The new shop, located in the 11th district on the corner of Sopron Street and Hengermalom Street, was installed in the old power unit-and painting equipment factory, which was built in the ‘70s.
Already more than 200 years, Siófok is the Capital City of Lake Balaton, which is the largest lake in Middle-East Europe. We planned the “Sió Pláza” Shopping Centre into the middle of the renewable main square of the centre of the renewable downtown. The modern XXI. Century building is situated between the two historical symbols of the city, the Water Tower, was built in 1912, and the Pub, was built in 1895. Our aim was to plan a building that communicates with its environment, the historical city centre, continuously. We developed a transparent glass facade towards the main square of the city, with a cobweb-like metal screen.The shops were strung on 3 levels onto the inner shopping arcade of the shopping centre. The food and drug store received place on the minus first floor, the restaurant, branch and other services on the ground floor and the first floor. The entertainment (cinema, bowling, restaurants) is situated in the supreme floor. The building of the old Pub is integrated into the new building by the inner shopping arcade. The new functions are a bookshop and a cafe, with own garden. The remaining facades are planted with green plants.
The building process of the Oxygen and Dissousgas Company (ODV) started in 1952 in Újpest, the brownfield belt of Budapest. Because of its proximity to the Danube river Újpest was the area of industrial developments already in the 1920’s and 30’s (tannery, thread factory, lamp factory). The valuable original brick buildings were completed through continuous development until 1963. The MESSER company – the leading manufacturer and distributor of special technical and medical gases in Europe – purchased the site in 1988. Our company, A4 Studio accepted the commission in 2008 for designing the new production hall, laboratory, depositories and offices on the 47 000 m2 site. Our first design approaches reckoned with a new building (see images) but after an accurate architectural and structural analysis we decided in agreement with the investor to utilize the original brick buildings with modern extensions. Design process happened in 2010-11 (see images). The refurbishment was completed in the summer of 2012 with 21st century architectural means and materials (anthracite colored metal cladding, glass surfaces, exposed concrete), the design indicates old and new structures.
About me:
My name is Androsics Tamás, graduated as architectural engineer. Right now, I continue my study at Pollack Mihaly Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology to get an Architect (Master) degree. The following building made as my final project of my Basic study.
The Kocka bar is located in the heart of the entertainment district of Budapest, in the busy junction of a pedestrian walkway and the bar-street of Kazinczy utca. Its freestanding situation is unique in the surrounding, and the monolithic cubic volume (kocka translates to cube in Hungarian) is an easily recognizable landmark. It has a huge potential to become an iconic building of the entertainment district.
Felcsút is a community of 1800 souls in the Váli Valley, 40 kilometers west of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Since 2004, the locality hosts the largest education center for aspiring young footballers in the country; an institution named in 2006 after one of the greatest football legends in history, Olympic champion,European Cup winner and World Cup silver medalist Ferenc Puskás.
Photography: György Dénes, László Döme Jr, József Takács, Tamás Dósa Papp
Project Team: Imre Balázs Arnóczki, Antal Szegedi, Krisztina Törekiné Bakó, László Király, Ferenc Vavrik, Barna Jóföldi, Oszkár Orbán, Lídia Mikus, Olivér Kis-Simon, Tamás Dósa Papp
Client: A Felcsúti Utánpótlás Neveléséért Alapítvány
The construction of the transportation-related building on Móricz Zsigmond Circus, Budapest was completed in 1943, according to the design of József Schall; and because of its shape later it was identified as the “Mushroom” by the word of mouth. Originally a departure building, cash- and waiting room and a café were placed in three building sectors under the roof with a ring-shaped layout. A fountain stood in the middle of the ring (stone relief by László Szomor). Shortly after its completion the building was roughly converted, transformers were placed into one of its circle sectors. The structure has started to be a slum-like environment already in the ’70s. For its particular spatial space composition and extremely slim reinforced concrete details it has been recorded as a listed building under monumental protection since 1997.
While the apartment was under construction the bachelor who owns the place fell in love with the large uninterrupted space, but he also wanted to be able to separate the traditional functions. Maintaining large spaces and separating rooms at the same time required a mobile solution. This bachelor pad has 2 more special features: the amazing panorama and the fact that the sun goes around in the space. These also led to unique interior design solutions.
The ethereal centre of innovation project, unveiled in Hungary, stands for the mutual inspiration of science, technology and art. A twenty four meter passage surrounded by the reflections of reflections. Foldes Architects involved a glass sculptor to compose the illusion effects engaging the visual notion of all visitors.
The architectural programme of the Agora project – a center for the promotion of local innovation – is manifested in a building unifying four different functions, three of which are linked to science and research: Computer-science history exhibition, Informatorium (demonstration space of the latest information technology) and a demonstration laboratory presenting experiments in biophysics. Our client decided to add the youth center of the city to the programme as well in order to introduce the younger generation as the main target group to the world of science and technology.