Sviluppo del quartiere del governo Ungherese | Team0708 Kft

Four quarters make a whole: the project winning the international
competition for a complex to house eleven ministries
of the Hungarian government applies environmentally-
conscious architectural and technical solutions. Moreover,
it presents a combined approach to three basic problems
of its urban context: the rehabilitation of an historic district,
the integration of the once peripheral central railways,
and the fi ne-tuning of an adventitiously-developed downtown
main square through deconstruction. The proposed
design was based on the conviction that the principle of
operable systems should be followed for both the architecture
and its environment redefi ned by the construction.
The building complex of the government district is only
one quarter; it will only become a whole after reworking the
other three precincts.

Government quarter: the (planned) construction converts
the existing railway track to make available land on which
a fabric of buildings perforated with courtyards providing
circulation of light, air and heat is placed. The fi rst three fl oors
are occupied by communal functions permeable in each direction
and the upper fl oors house offi ces and related facilities.
Teréz-quarter: the simultaneous and strategic rehabilitation
of the Teréz-quarter’s century-old urban structure is the
urban counterpart and counter-balance of the government
district, to be completed in 5 to 10 years. The hardware elements
of the operable system will be implemented through
central preparation, design and construction. The established
network will thus create a uniform basis/platform for
the spontaneous renewal of the context trough actual software
applications.

Railroad to crossroad to green-road: The lowering of the
railway lines and one of the three main railway stations of
the capital creates a street level connection of the two districts
all along the new construction project. Perpendicular
to these new connections and between the bordering government
district buildings, a spatial sequence of a tri-sectional
park-piazza-park has been designed. The downtown
boulevard will be directly connected through recreational
traffi c to the city’s highest-quality green area and leisure
destinations with the Eiffel Hall being the point of departure
and arrival.

Square-anatomy: the station building was designed by Gustav
Eiffel’s offi ce and completed in 1877. In order to ensure an
appropriate context for its new role after renewal as gateway
to the area, four important fi ne-tuning steps need to
be taken on the square. We can hardly use the word architecture
in reference to relocation, demolition, backfi lling and
a replacement project, but in some cases the successful application
of such techniques of deconstruction and obstruction
can create the conditions of effi cient operation.

Relevance to target issues

Quantum change and transferability

The program will entirely transform a very poorly-functioning
urban scene. It could prove to be paradigmatic by proposing
radical, progressive solutions and introducing new
qualities in a society lacking awareness and insight. Urban
renewal is triggered by a type of development usually known
to be arrogant. The work is based on a profound analysis of
the situation and a highly complex approach.

Ethical standards and social equity

Our goal was to turn a symbol of power into an exemplary
model of common sense, responsibility and sustainability.
Integrated concepts of energy, architecture and urbanism
make the project a mind-changing example for a whole
nation, providing clear, long-term benefi ts for the community.
Publishing the project in detail on the Internet gives
democratic access to information and accountability.
Ecological quality and energy conservation
A sustainable energy concept is applied to the whole government
building. Heat pumps meet 100% of heating and
50% of cooling energy needs. The remaining portion of cooling
is provided by water from the Danube. Wall heating
and cooling is combined with extreme thermal insulation
using innovative materials. Direct heat impact is eliminated
by plants on the façade and full shading of the windows,
reducing cooling needs. Natural light drastically reduces
electricity consumption. By using green electricity,
the building fulfi ls zero emission requirements. Warm water
comes from solar vacuum tubes and photovoltaic panels.
Rainwater is collected, a split wastewater management
and water saving appliances are used. Selective waste management
is carried out on the spot. A similar concept is
proposed for the connected urban area.
Economic performance and compatibility
The whole project is about cutting costs of governmental
work by bringing together the offi ces and providing better
infrastructure. The relatively high cost of construction is balanced
by lower-cost operation and sustainable economical
prosperity of the adjacent urban areas. This way the intervention
becomes a long-term investment that will not devalue
anytime soon.

Contextual and aesthetic impact

Contextual concerns play a major role in the project. Exploiting
the energy coming from the emergence of such a large
and important building, an extensive urban rehabilitation
is planned in order to prepare for the inevitable changes
coming. The governmental building introduces a new aesthetic
quality in Budapest and is set into a framework of
three equally radical interventions: covering the railways
with a huge public park, reconstructing the square in front
of the station and renewing a 25-block urban area across
the street from the new building. Urban structure is regarded
here as a mechanism that has to work properly and
fulfi ll the needs of inhabitants. Hence the first three stories
of the building contain public functions and are subsequently
highly-accessible to the public and open for walkthrough.