Budapest: A City of Culture, A Palace of Arts
By Joel Pominville
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| Palace of Arts, Budapest, Hungary - Zoboki, Demeter and Associates |
Culture. Arts. Markets. History.
Caverns. Thriving. These words only begin to touch on the definition of the
most fantastic city in Europe: Budapest, Hungary. The city is full of exciting
architecture ranging from some roman ruins, renaissance era architecture,
Turkish architecture from a 150-year-long Ottoman rule, to neoclassical,
modern, and riveting contemporary architecture. It is very similar to Paris in
that the architecture addresses the street façades and corner conditions very
well. Although there is so much to talk about, I want to focus in on the Palace of Arts by Zoboki, Demeter and Associates, a Hungarian architecture
firm from Budapest.
Zoboki, Demeter and Associates
(ZDA), was hired by the Budapest municipalities to design a center to host,
theatre, concerts, and art exhibits. The building would have to be a landmark
for Budapest and all of Hungary. It would have to remind the world of the
individuality and innovativeness of Budapest. The building sits in a quadrant
of a square hosting the contemporary National Theatre in one quadrant, newly
designed apartments in another quadrant, and a green space in the last. The
building opens up with a long glass façade facing the square, thus, addressing
the other works of contemporary architecture.
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| Palace of Arts - Plan |
There are two things that I want to
analyze about this great work of architecture: Separation and Unity, and a
certain level of clear reading of spaces from the exterior. To begin, it must
be understood that there are three main programmatic pieces: a smaller theatre
for dance and drama, a larger theatre serving as concert space, and an exhibit
for art. As one can see in the plan shown, the three parts are clearly defined
and separated. At the same time, a strong reading of continuous lobby and less
important spaces connects the main spaces. For example, between the two
theatres is a small fifteen-step lecture space. The lobby acts as the common
ground between all of the spaces. With pieces jutting into it, circulation
running in and out of it, the lobby remains the strongest element in the whole
building.
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| Palace of Arts - Lobby Space and Exterior of Large Theatre |
The
best part about the lobby, and the building as a whole, is the level of clarity
of where spaces are and what purpose they serve. Furthermore, these spaces can
almost all be understood from the exterior. For example, as one can see in the
photograph, the lobby stretches the whole length, flexing from interior to
exterior space as it nears the art exhibit. The lobby is primarily glass,
allowing the viewer to see beyond to begin understanding the placement of the
interior spaces. The two theatres are clearly evidenced in two ways: the
functional extrusions above the building, and the material chosen to follow
through all the levels demarking the separation of those spaces. This is such a
strong statement by the designer that the user really has no reason to be
confused about where to enter for their respective needs. In fact, the rear of
the building is a nearly completely solid surface opining up when necessary
making clear the office spaces inside. Again, another level of clarity.
Architect Page
Building Project Page
http://www.zda.hu/works.php?work_id=47&open_menu=114&ln=0&menu_id=124&parent=117
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