Hungarian Architecture Honored at the BIG SEE Awards

The “Major Udvar,” Budapest

Twenty-eight Hungarian projects won prizes in the architecture category at the international BIG Architecture Ljubljana Festival, held between May 15-16, writes Építészfórum.

In contrast to last year, when KÖZTI (Középülettervező Vállalat / Public Building Designer Co.) took home the Grand Prix, this year none of the Hungarian projects received the highest award. There were numerous winners in categories such as public buildings, tourist buildings, educational buildings, family houses, and condominiums.

BIG started in the early 2000s, to promote high-quality Slovenian architecture and design. In the mid-2010s, it expanded its activities to the South East Europe (SEE) region.

Today, the BIG SEE platform covers 21 countries in the region, representing a market of 350 million people, and offers a wide range of networking opportunities for participants. The two-day event featured an international conference, exhibition, and a presentation of this year’s BIG SEE Awards to an audience of leading professionals from the region.

In the category of Public Buildings, Cultural, and Infrastructural Buildings, prizes were awarded for the revitalization of the “Major udvar” in Budapest, the Robinson Bridge at the site of the Athletics World Championship, and the renovation of the “Tengerszem” medical clinic building from the 1950s.

It is noteworthy that the renovation of the Hungarian State Opera House, led by architect Gábor Zoboki, who also designed the Palace of Arts (also known as MÜPA), received an award.

Among rural buildings, the Béthel Lutheran Church in Piliscsaba (near Budapest) and two buildings in Balatonfüred (northern shore of lake Balaton) were prize-winners.

In the field of educational buildings in Budapest, the Deutsche Schule Budapest – Thomas Mann Gymnasium’s new complex made of containers, and the extension of the Jedlik Ányos Secondary School building received awards. The reconstruction of the St. Ursula Secondary School in Sopron (western Hungary) also earned recognition.

Tourism buildings that garnered awards included the reconstruction of the Dreschler Palace, formerly the home of the Ballet Institute, now the W Hotel, and the Eurostars Ambassador Hotel, also in Budapest.

In the category of industrial buildings, prizes went to the BudaPrés Cider building and the headquarters of a dental supplier in Sopron. Eleven buildings received awards in the residential and condominium category. In landscape architecture, the environmentally conscious renewal of the Cultural Quarter in Veszprém (western Hungary) was recognized.

Via epiteszforum.hu; Featured Image: Facebook / Major Udvar Irodaház