H17 – CULTURAL CENTER / Plan for a performing arts district in the city center of Eger, Hungary /

I am a newly graduated architect at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and I made my master's degree this summer. Considering myself a creative person, I am interested in all topics in which creation plays a role, so before architecture itself, product design, animation, and even archeology stood ahead of me as possible directions. I still have the openness to a wide variety of topics today, yet in architecture I found a profession that requires creative energies on the one hand and precision on the other, so I feel like it suits me well and I can do it vocationally. I truly think I made the right decision with architecture, and I look forward to this interesting path, which lies ahead of me...

The building site I was dealing with in my thesis is located in the central part of the city of Eger, together with many other vacant plots within the same block. These points have long been the shame of the city, due to their central location and long-term lack of use. Within the city block is the - so-called - Little Synagogue, which was established in the 1840’s. The building, which initially served religious purposes, and later as an art gallery, is nowadays unused. My goal is to transform the examined city block of Eger into an Art and Culture district, which would target empty plots and unused buildings within the block. In terms of functions, this block could accommodate a smaller performing arts unit - a coffee saloon - with the cooperation of the nearby theatre, rehearsal rooms that can be rented at a more favorable price for the local dance schools, the nearby music school, or orchestras (within the Youth Music Program of Eger, supporting the local talented young people). This initiative would thus raise the local associations to a more prestigious city situation. The architectural design would begin with the construction of the „H17 Cultural Center” on the specific plot, which could become the main element of the performing arts district as a counterpart to the Little Synagogue’s existing performace hall. An important element for integrating the building into the fabric is that the urban block can be revealed from the particularly important section of the riverbank, and the inner zones of the block, which are currently under-used, become passable. As a means of this, the idea of a new walking path with a smaller pedestrian bridge was included in the plan, which can generate additional traffic to the newly created building complex, enriching the pedestrian zones of the city center. In terms of architectural character, the house tries to harmoniously take on the characteristics of its surroundings and combine them with contemporary elements. The use of materials in the building is clear and straightforward. The facades are simply plastered, the roof structure is traditionally formed with ceramic elements. These material elements also serve as tools for sensitive integration into the historic environment. The middle unit of the building has a lightweight steel structure, with WPC lamella covering, which is similar in material to the facade system of the two houses.