A journey through Hungary's contemporary buildings and architectural landmarks

Hungary is a country with a rich architectural heritage, reflecting the diverse influences it has come into contact with throughout its history and skillfully blending them with remarkable contemporary architectural development. In this material we explore some of Hungary's modern buildings and architectural landmarks, which are impressive for their innovative design and contribute to the country's fascinating urban landscape.

House of Music, Budapest

In January 2022, the Hungarian House of Music was inaugurated, a unique and complex institution that serves as a place of musical initiation and hosts the country's first comprehensive exhibition on the history of music. This remarkable building, designed by the famous Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, was selected from 170 international projects and has attracted attention in international professional circles. In fact, in 2021, it was included by CNN and the World Architecture Community in their top ten most anticipated new buildings of the year. The end result was truly an awe-inspiring contemporary architectural masterpiece.
Its undulating, organically shaped roof perforated with holes and glass walls make the building an inimitable visual landmark. The House of Music was built on the former site of a dilapidated and unused office complex in the heart of the City Park and has transformed the area into a top attraction.
The Hungarian House of Music stands out as an impressive architectural achievement, which not only complements the country's cultural landscape, but also makes a significant contribution to promoting and understanding Hungary's rich musical heritage in a global context.

AREA: 9,000 square meters
ARCHITECT: Sou Fujimoto - M-Teampannon
IMPLEMENTATION: Magyar Építő

Museum of Ethnography

The Museum of Ethnography in Budapest was inaugurated in 1872 and relocated to a new building in 2020. Its new home is located at the end of Városligeti fasor (City Park alley) and was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. Its contemporary design features geometric shapes and strategic use of glass and metal. The museum hosts exhibitions and events exploring Hungarian culture and traditions in an innovative and engaging way.
It was announced as part of the Liget Budapest Project, and world-renowned architects took part in the competition to design the museum building. From these top players, the international jury unanimously selected a Hungarian design as the winner: that of NAPUR Architect, led by Marcel Ferencz.
At ground level, the museum building is divided into two wings that extend upwards like slopes and flank a 1956 monument surrounded by a huge square directly connected to the interior. The two arched wings have separate functions: one addresses the 'public' sphere, the other the 'professional'.
The building's iconic design conceals several special technological solutions, with the arched wings supported by a structure used in bridge construction. It is a rare application of this technology to public buildings, not only in Hungary but all over Europe.
The spectacular feature of the building is its glass curtain, which encircles the roof garden on the roof of the two curved rising wings. This element is covered with a raster-structured metal grid with ethnographic motifs selected from the museum's collections and consists of almost half a million pixels, which a special robot placed in the aluminum plates used.
The building's other impressive feature is its roof garden, which practically functions as an extension of the green space in the City Park. It was built by spreading more than 3,000 cubic meters of soil fertilized with special nutrients on the "slopes" of the building, in which plants and trees were planted.
About 60% of the building is below ground level, where, in line with modern museum science guidelines, world-class exhibition spaces are protected from natural light. It's a momentous change, with the new building three times the size of the old one.

AREA: 33,000 square meters
ARCHITECT: Napur Architect
IMPLEMENTATION: Záév

Bálna:
Bálna (The Whale), an iconic building located on the Danube bank in Budapest, was inaugurated in 2013. Designed by Dutch architect Kas Oosterhuis, the building impresses with its fluid forms and symbolizes the meeting of architecture and nature. Covering some 28,000 square meters, Bálna houses restaurants, shops, exhibition halls and cultural spaces, offering a unique experience for visitors.
The complex consists of two parallel, century-old red-brick warehouses joined by a whale-shaped glass shell. This riverside complex hides inside shops and bars, while elegant pubs offer a calm view of the water. Its creator, Kas Oosterhuis, also designed Dubai Sports City.

AREA: 30,574 sq m
ARCHITECT: Kas Oosterhuis
IMPLEMENTATION: Fővárosi Önkormányzat

Palace of Arts, Budapest

Müpa Budapest (former Palace of the Arts) - with the Béla Bartók Concert Hall and Festival Theater Hall - is located on Komor Marcell Street.
Müpa Budapest, the long-awaited new cultural center of Budapest and Hungary, was inaugurated in 2005 and was built to represent over a hundred years of Hungarian cultural history. A conglomeration of cultural spaces, the building is unprecedented in 20th-century Hungarian architecture and unrivaled in the whole of Central Europe.
The creators of this ambitious project, the Trigránit Development Corporation, main builder Arcadom Construction and the architectural office Zoboki, Demeter and Associates, were motivated by the desire to create a new European cultural center as part of the new Millennium City Centre complex, located along the Danube bank and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The result is a building whose construction quality, appearance, functionality and 21st century technological infrastructure make it ideal for productions at the highest level.
The building stands out for its modern and distinctive architecture. It is an impressive example of contemporary architecture with clean lines and geometric shapes and harmoniously blends elements of glass, metal and concrete, creating a visually impressive image.
One of the distinctive features of the building is the way it is illuminated. At night, the building takes shape in a spectacular way and transforms into a main attraction.
In addition, it is designed to provide an ideal setting for high-quality performances and cultural events. The concert halls and theaters are equipped with excellent acoustics and advanced technological systems, ensuring an unforgettable experience for the audience.
The Müpa Budapest is a successful combination of functionality, aesthetics and modern technology, offering an impressive cultural space and a major attraction in Budapest.

AREA: 100.000 square meters
ARCHITECT: Zoboki István & Zoboki, Demeter and Associates
IMPLEMENTATION: Arcadom Construction & Trigránit Development Corporation

Egerszalók Thermal Baths and SPA Complex

The Egerszalók Thermal Baths and Spa Complex impresses with its distinctive architecture and perfect integration into the natural landscape. The architect József Koller has created a structure that is a harmonious combination of modern and traditional elements, highlighting the beauty and characteristics of the local area.
The main building of the complex skillfully combines various architectural styles. The elegant facade is made of quality materials and features sophisticated design elements.
One of the distinctive aspects of the architecture is the use of salt rocks in the construction. They give the building an original look and are a direct link to the unique thermal resources of the area. The presence of salt rocks in the structure of the complex creates a visual contrast with impact and adds an element of uniqueness.
The thermal pools, both outdoor and indoor, are designed to provide a relaxing and invigorating experience. The resort has 17 pools, both outdoor and indoor, and the indoor spaces are carefully designed to create a calm and comfortable atmosphere for visitors.
In addition, the building is home to treatment rooms, massage rooms, saunas and steam baths, offering a wide range of relaxation and rejuvenation services.
The particularity of the complex is the presence of the "Salt Mountain", a geological formation surrounded by thermal waters. This natural feature provides a unique and spectacular attraction, adding a distinctive touch to the visitor experience.
The architecture of the Egerszalók thermal baths and spa complex is a successful combination of modern and traditional design, elegantly integrating natural elements and offering a particularly relaxing atmosphere.

AREA: 30.000 square meters
ARCHITECT: A4 Studio
IMPLEMENTATION: SCHELL Projects Kft