“The building’s position within the city, the connection to the adjacent school building have been retained while the other end of the building faces an inner courtyard. The formerly prestigious single- and two-storey town houses have been demolished and the so-called Lace House has been built behind them and in their place, with a suspended corridor overlooking the square. There is a tower on each of the community centre’s four corners, partly because of my current obsession with them and partly because it gives significance and grandeur not only to the main square but also to the small façade facing the small square at the back. There is an open-air stage there, in fact you can see the same stage from the building or from the square. Interestingly, people have this obsession that the surroundings of my buildings should be cleared so that the structures can be seen properly. They forget that a city is like a tissue, in which a building of any significance can be placed anywhere as long as it fits into that tissue.” (Imre Makovecz)

“As we are proceeding towards the Onion house, we see four towers with a mass in between them that resembles the body of a lying animal. That structure actually houses a theatre and other spaces for cultural events. This building, like the other ones that I designed, is an example of Hungarian organic architecture. What does that mean? It means that our architecture is not intended to serve industrial and commercial lobbies. Instead, we strive to use materials and shapes that remind us of our own make. It does not necessarily have to be a conscious move. It is enough if you say it feels good to be in this house. If you enter the inner space, you see a theatre and that the stage is “a house within the house”. If you talk with Martha, who runs the whole complex, and she explains how it all works, then you will surely find joy in it.” (Imre Makovecz)

Drawings

Designs

Photos