Paradigma Ariadné is a Budapest-based architectural studio that designs extraordinary buildings, installations, and objects. Their designs meet all expected requirements and always include something extra, resulting in a more joyful daily life or a more pleasant environment for the inhabitants or users of the given building or interior space. This is why the office is characterized by an innovative approach to aesthetics, the pursuit of beauty, and the creation of buildings that have a story to tell. The office was founded by Attila Róbert Csóka, Szabolcs Molnár, and Dávid Smiló in 2016.
The office's partners and clients include institutions, corporations, municipalities, and individuals, particularly those seeking innovative ideas and solutions for their architectural tasks or projects that require architectural expertise. Accordingly, the office provides architectural design, editorial, curatorial, and educational services.
Paradigma Ariadné, together with art historian Dániel Kovács, curated the Hungarian Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia 2021, and the office has showcased its work in several exhibitions and international collaborations in Budapest, Venice, Warsaw, Vienna, Ljubljana, Logroño, Dortmund, Milan, Paris, and Ohio in the United States.
Project description in English
Shopping malls emerged in the capitals of post-socialist countries following the regime change in the 1990s. These large buildings quickly occupied vacant downtown plots, offering a gleaming promise of a capitalist future with abundant consumption to societies that had long experienced shortages of basic goods post-World War II. Consequently, many of these malls remain vibrant, serving visitors with a variety of products. However, 30 years on, aging shopping malls now face new challenges.
One such mall is the Mammut Shopping Mall in Budapest, located near the formerly named Moscow Square on the Buda side. As its name suggests, Mammut is massive but was designed at a time when Hungarian architects lacked the expertise to effectively engage visitors in the shopping experience. This has resulted in some areas, like the third floor, being less frequented and having vacant spaces.
To address this, Mammut's management decided on a strategy akin to urban revitalization: enhancing public spaces with the hope of stimulating community and economic growth. They invited two cultural figures from Budapest, Tibor Remete and Adél Kovács, to invigorate one of the empty shops. With their extensive experience in culture, entertainment, and business, Tibor and Adél were tasked with creating a lively environment.
The architects from Paradigma Ariadné, brought into the project by Tibor and Adél, aimed to transform this new space into a free, public living room on the third floor of a predominantly consumer-driven building. Thus, Kollab was born—a place where visitors can relax and engage in cultural activities within a shopping mall.
In designing Kollab, the architects sought to subvert the typical aesthetic of a shopping mall. Every shape and material was chosen to create a distinct atmosphere. Visitors entering Kollab immediately sense they are in a unique space, different from the usual commercial environments. The wavy tables, mastaba-like stands, raw brick blocks, and yellow corrugated plastic coverings invite visitors to sit, rest, and engage in cultural events. These elements are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, serving as the backdrop for concerts, workshops, exhibitions, and performances scheduled to take place at Kollab throughout the year.
