Design competition could redraw the future of Hévízi Tófürdő

The design competition concerning the Hévíz Thermal Bath and Lake Bath and the St. Andrew Rheumatism Hospital and Thermal Bath in Hévíz could be decisive for the long-term operation of one of Hungary's most important health tourism centres.

The decision to announce the design competition was based on technical reasons: part of the spa building on the lake had to be closed last spring due to structural problems. The closure only applies to the structure above the water; the medicinal lake and the associated bathing facilities continue to operate and welcome guests. However, investigations have shown that a long-term, systemic solution is needed.

Health tourism centre built on Europe's largest thermal lake

Hévíz is built on Europe's largest biologically active natural thermal lake, whose certified medicinal water plays a key role primarily in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, but is also widely used for rehabilitation and prevention purposes. A complex service infrastructure has been built around the lake, offering medical care, bathing services, accommodation and tourist facilities. This network attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is one of the key drivers of the region's economy.

Hévíz thermal water: 231 years of healing

The lake began to be used in 1795, when Count György Festetics built the first bathhouse. In the early 1900s, Vencel Reischl made significant improvements, raising the place to international standards. The building complex has been renovated several times since then and was rebuilt after a fire in 1986.
The lake bathhouse was built in 1968 and modernised in 2005 with state-of-the-art technological solutions. The building is unique in that it stands on stilts in the water, which requires special operating and maintenance conditions. The condition of the building has been regularly checked by geodetic measurements since 2008. However, tests carried out in 2023 revealed significant movement in the central part of the building. According to detailed analyses, gases rising from the bottom of the lake together with the medicinal water damaged the pile heads, which ultimately led to the closure.
This is not the first time that a design competition has been announced for the comprehensive development of the spa and hospital. Most recently, in 2016, ideas were sought for the long-term development of Hévíz, including the construction of an indoor spa and the modernisation of the therapy centre.

It is not a building, but the future of a health resort ecosystem that is at stake.

The aim of the recently announced design competition is to present a comprehensive and coherent development plan. The aim is to rethink Hévízi Tófürdőt as an integrated, internationally recognised health and medical tourism centre that operates all year round.
The goal is to define the architectural and operational framework for a functioning, long-term sustainable health resort ecosystem that can simultaneously serve as an international tourist attraction, provide high-quality health and medical care, and preserve and enhance the natural and built values of Lake Hévíz and its surroundings.

Complex technical challenges in a sensitive natural environment

One of the greatest challenges of the development concept is that the design task is being carried out in an extremely specialised hydrological and geotechnical environment. The structural design of the facilities built above the lake must take into account the continuous water flow, the effect of gases rising with the medicinal water, and the chemical and physical processes that influence the long-term behaviour of the pile foundations.
In addition, energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact are fundamental requirements, especially in such a sensitive ecosystem where preserving natural features is a priority.

Development can be achieved through systematic, continuous operation.

One of the most important organisational aspects of the development is that the work will be carried out in stages while maintaining the continuous operation of the spa. Accordingly, the planning process will also be structured in stages, as will the subsequent demolition and construction work, which is expected to start in the second half of 2027.

The functional system of the health resort is to be redesigned in three stages.

The design programme divides the functional groups of the development area into three distinct phases, which also indicate the scale and complexity of the investment.

• The first phase involves the partial demolition, reconstruction and renovation of the lake baths and the buildings and facilities most closely associated with them, as well as the construction of a new building. This phase focuses primarily on the technical and functional renewal of the immediate surroundings of the lake.
• The second phase aims to reorganise the buildings and functional units associated with the St. Andrew's Rheumatism Hospital, which could be a key element in the modernisation and integration of the medical infrastructure.
• The third phase involves the planning of tourism functional units, which can lay the foundations for expanding the spa's service system and improving the visitor experience.

   

  

   

Development of national significance with long-term effects

The renovation of Hévízi Tófürdő goes beyond a local investment: the facility is one of the flagships of Hungarian health tourism, so the outcome of the design competition could determine the technical and tourist framework of its operation for decades to come.