RIGHT IN TWO | Archiring Studio

According to the competition statement, to the chosen sites and to the nature of both museums, it seemed clear that the two future buildings must have a strong relation between them. Even if they cannot be physically connected, they have to communicate. Instead of thinking on two different projects separated by a public space, the idea is to start with one constructible lot and one square. This initial lot is a rectangle of 96 x 46.5m, included in one site boundary. It is divided in two equal parts following an oblique direction inspired by the direction of Heroes Square and Mucsarnok. This section divides the rectangle’s width according to the rule of thirds, a rule widely used in photography and architecture compositions. Then, one of the two parts is translated to the other site. The Hungarian Museum of Architecture close to the urban promenade and the FotoMuzeum close to the park. A game of full and empty is created. Each volume is the other’s opposite. A pedestal, a memento of the original form, is kept under each museum. The Architecture museum is raised on a glass base hosting entrances and consumption spaces.

On both volumes, tilts on roof and base create tension in direction of the 1956’s monument. Finally, a black covering is chosen for the FotoMuzeum and a white texture for the Hungarian Museum of Architecture. It enhances the contrast and, at the same time, binds closely the two projects, just like a yin-yang symbol.