The competition for the new centre of Hungarian architecture has closed

On 11 December, the results of the competition for the design of the Hungarian Centre and Museum of Architecture were announced at the Vigadó in Pest. One first, one second and two third place winners were announced in the architectural design competition organised by the Secretariat of the Hungarian Academy of Arts (MMA), two were awarded a special purchase and six were awarded a purchase.   

The first prize with a gross award of HUF 10 million was awarded to the joint application of Tér és Forma Szeged Építéstervező Kft. - BIVAK studio Kft.. The second prize of HUF 7 million gross was awarded to Monostudio Architect Kft.. The third prize of 5-5 HUF gross was shared between Deichler Jakab Architect Studio Kft. - Fejérdy and Bartók Architecture Kft. (joint applicants) and Archikon Architectural Design and Planning Kft..

A strong international field of applicants

According to a written summary of the MMA, the MMA Secretariat launched a two-phase design competition in June 2023 for the Hungarian Architecture Centre and Museum, planned for the recently renovated Walter Rózsi Villa in the Városligeti fasor. The first phase of the competition was open to any architectural firm meeting the reference requirements.   

Twenty-eight agencies submitted entries, and from them a prestigious international field emerged, whose members summarised their ideas on two tables in the first, now secret, round of the next stage. From these, the Jury selected the 12 applicants who were then invited to a second round of detailed design work.

Discussions on next steps to start before 2023

Speaking at the results announcement on Monday, Regő Lánszki, National Architect and Secretary of State for Architecture of Építési és Közlekedési Minisztérium (ÉKM), said that the building will be a common house for architects and will hopefully soon become a cultural beacon. Regő Lánszki, co-chair of the Jury, said that the cultural space will showcase the unique heritage of Hungarian architecture that is still valid today, provide a meeting place and conference venue for the architects of today, and offer the opportunity for future architects to learn and be inspired. "Above all, Hungarian architecture must represent quality", the State Secretary stressed.

He pointed out that the slogan of the reform era was "homeland and progress", and that the hopeful architectural reform era will be "tradition and innovation". "The Centre for Architecture will provide an opportunity to find a contemporary style that is responsive to international trends, yet unique, that can express us, that says something about us Hungarians not only to artists but also to millions of our compatriots," the State Secretary said.  

Attila Turi, President of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, emphasized that the MMA will start negotiations on the next steps, the design contract with the first prize winners in the near future, in 2023. "The centre, which is now within reach, will not only be an exhibition space, but also an event space, which will serve the needs of the interested public and provide a meeting place and intellectual centre for the profession at the same time", Attila Turi said.