Platan community centre with a multifunctional hall

Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Project idea

Platan community centre with a multifunctional hall

The site.

The projected area is located in Budafok, the 22nd district of Budapest, Hungary, which is the oldest settlement added to the Budapest urban mesh in 1950. The chosen site is situated in the district centre on the calm zone in between Kossuth Lajos street and Mária Terézia street next to the residential area. Kossuth Lajos street is going to be transformed to limited traffic street according to the Budafok development traffic plan. Budafok-Tétény area has significant historical background. It was decided to design a community centre with an exhibition hall and a new public space in the plot.

Budafok is one of the most populated districts in Budapest, very popular among younger families with kids and there is a very strong civilian community. Currently, most of the community life can take place in art quarter area, which is quite far from the district centre. New community building in the district centre could be a completely independent space that could be open for any use.

According to the Budafok public space distribution scheme, all the district's public spaces are far from the site, which is situated in an absolutely flat area. That makes the projected area perfectly suitable for a new public space. Moreover, there is a suburban train station stop nearby, so this empty plot is a good opportunity to make a public space and to connect it to the hill site.

Project description

The concept.

There is an existing community building adjacent to the projected area, which is not designed for this function with only several small rooms inside and blank walls that need to be treated. Therefore, this function is extended providing an opportunity to make larger events.

The new public space would connect passage ways from the train station to the residential area on the hill side together. Thus, the building is partially standing on the columns and has a cantilever part providing walkable space on the ground level.

The platan tree takes a great part of the site. It is going to be protected being the centre point of the new public space composition. The projected Platan community centre is named after this tree.

The building entrance is oriented towards the public space being protected from the main traffic street (Maria Terézia ut). The large block of the Nothern part of the building, containing all the main functions, faces the main part of the public space and follows the coordination system of existing building blocks in the surrounding area.

Interior space is a continuation of the outdoor public space, which is divided into the several public space pockets, such as public benches, green areas, LED feature wall, public space pocket with seats and lights. There is also an outdoor bar area with a coffee counter. You can order a cup of coffee from here and sit somewhere on the public bench.

Two main functions of the Platan community centre are the cafe at the ground floor and the multifunctional hall at the first floor. The technical block is placed separately to make a clear space and not to spoil the facades with additional doors.

The operable partitions applied in the multifunctional hall allow to create a flexible space on the first floor with different possibilities of its usage for the district community. There can be: lectures, educational clubs, conferences, chamber theatre and music events, movies broadcasts, exhibitions, fairs, parties, celebrations, quizzes, auctions, etc.

The building openings are oriented towards the western side. There are almost no windows from the south and east and there is a large existing tree from the north. Therefore, only small amount of shading is provided. The ground floor opens with large closed glass surfaces towards the busy street which creates a direct contact with its surroundings and still retains its inner intimacy.

On the first floor there is a large curtain wall providing the view to the public space and the Platan tree.

Technical information

Steel structure system is chosen for the project to make the building more open, lighter, faster to erect.

While choosing the finishing maternal, the inspiration came from the area around the site and industrial part of Budafok. Multiple old and new brick constructions were found. Brick gives sense of warmth; it is friendly and elegant at the same time matching the character of the public space. The brick looks nice from afar and up closely.

Some bricks are standing out at different distance, which is increasing towards the top of the building or outwards of the entrance. In other places in front of windows and curtain walls brick punctured facade is applied. The glass surface of the back facade in the ground floor is directing visitors inside.