In 2002, the 2nd district local government of Budapest announced a limited design competition for the reconstruction of a building that was deemed obsolete as regards spatial distribution, functionality, and structures. In our winning design, we went beyond reconstruction and opted for new construction, believing that new is an organic continuation of old. In order to ensure the link between old and new, we kept the street-front wing of the building as being the most important section from both architectural and emotional points of view.
The new wings take the place of the demolished ones, but are appropriately oriented. Instead of being closed from the north, the development remains open toward the hill that sort of runs into the open school yard.
Another key issue of spatial distribution was the location of the sizeable gym. As regards the entire plot and the hillside, it was important to avoid considerable terrain changes due to the extension. Therefore, the gym is placed in the embrace of the courtyard wings thus leaving the slope behind the old school building untouched. Even the adjacent empty plot is only filled in with a wing that is one tract deep to leave the already established lawn area and the well-cared garden intact. The school is accessible from the Keleti Karoly Street. The remodeled old gym serves as a reception hall, which leads to another atrium-like lofty part of the vestibule from where the rooms and traffic routes of the entire school are well observable.
As a result of terrain conditions, the sports ground and the inner courtyard on top of the gym are interconnected by a bridge. Also suitable for holding outdoor lessons, the recreational area to be established in the intensive green area of the empty plot will be accessible from the first floor of the new street front wing. The romantic style architecture of the original wing was preserved and renovated. The architecture of the new building is predominated by two materials: used brick and roof tiles. The bricks from the demolition work were sort of transposed and re-emerged as exterior cladding materials. In addition to being an economical solution, it is a real spiritual link between old and new, thus highlighting stability and continuity.
Photo Attila Polgar
