Our core concept is to shape the building complex—both functionally and volumetrically—in a way that allows the park to extend all the way to the historic building on Kinizsi Street, framed by its patinated façade. This is made possible by designing the sports hall as an element that "floats" within the park: with a sunken arena, a ground-level entrance from the park, a visual connection from the spectator area, and a glazed façade that allows views through at park level. The rest of the concept developed almost like a row of dominoes: the elevated position created by the roof of the sports hall is occupied by the library (with the university's own rooftop garden above it), the floating library is connected to the building framing the park by communal bridges arranged in a cloister-like fashion, and thus, an atrium-like piazza emerges—an integral part of the extended Markusovszky Park and a simultaneously urban counterpoint marking the university's main entrance.Rising above the piazza is the chapel, located in the tower. Its star-shaped perforated façade is visible from every point in the park, while the celestial light filtering from above can only be perceived within the space of the chapel itself.
Markusovszky Square is shaped more by transport policy than urban design principles—it emerged through the demolition of former tobacco‑factory buildings and the metro’s construction. Nonetheless, within the surrounding urban fabric, it can serve an important, gap‑filling role. Within a 15‑minute walking radius there are several urbanistically significant open spaces, and they function best when linked by pedestrian‑bicycle priority streets, reduced‑traffic zones or promenades, forming a network of interlinked public spaces just minutes from each other. From Markusovszky Square, Bakáts Square, Kálvin Square, and Madách Square are each just a few blocks away, making Markusovszky a vital component of the city’s spatial network—without it, the distance between these squares would be significantly greater.
Despite its scale lending itself to a prominent role among central‑city squares, Markusovszky currently does not perform as such. Partly this stems from its origins: the square lacks active urban edges, and is affected by severing elements. In the direction of the neighboring district, Üllői út currently acts as a barrier. However, quieting sections of the road, increased bicycle traffic, and existing trees around the square indicate potential for improvement. Another major issue is the dense parking in surrounding streets, which fundamentally shapes the pedestrian experience—cars occupy sidewalks and even create “walls” that diminish active public use of space.
The significance of the square will be unmistakably elevated by the arrival of a new university building. Reformed institutions have been part of the block’s life since 1912 when the corner of the former tobacco‑factory facing Ráday Street was converted into theology facilities and a dormitory. Today, the Faculty of Theology of Károli Gáspár University operates here, so it is logical that the university’s other faculties would also find their place within the block. Moreover, the university and its community will become one of the square’s primary users. Therefore, the new development naturally calls for comprehensive revitalization of the square, designing the forecourts of newly appearing public institutions, and logically reorganizing public‑space functions. This aligns the university with other inner‑ring campuses and building complexes, strengthening the intellectual identity of the downtown area.
One layer of rethinking involves strengthening connections to the wider surroundings. The first step is reducing traffic on Biblia Street and eliminating surface parking there, creating a calmer, more generous pedestrian connection toward Ráday Street. This measure does not affect traffic patterns in adjacent streets—but it does represent a small but important step toward a less car‑centric city center. In the longer term, improving access to Bakáts Square via Knézits Street, the gradual transformation of Üllői út, and raising the quality of Szentkirályi Street will further embed the square into the urban environment.
The evolving square’s faces and character will be shaped in the long term by the new university buildings—so it was important that the new development not remain merely background, but become an integral part. The building’s character is defined through ground‑level permeability around the gymnasium volume. With this gesture, Markusovszky Square doesn’t end at the lot line: the building’s ground‑floor foyers become part of the public realm and stretch inward up to the historic tobacco‑warehouse courtyard façade. Thus, a more than century‑old frontage is placed alongside the new structure. Although the university’s campus can be closed off at the lot edge, during the day it can remain passable and open.
Inner‑Ferencváros and the neighboring Palace District are architecturally characterized by heterogeneous, typically historic façades. Though the eclectic cityscape is not a uniform imprint of one period or style, the historic buildings form a cohesive, serene fabric, with strictly edited, simple openings, typically plastered or brick surfaces, restrained massing, and emphasized entrances or corner features. We considered it essential that our new building adopt this behavior—worthy of a civic institution, yet assimilated into the surrounding urban fabric, a balanced structure among many high‑quality works of Budapest architecture.
Along Üllői út, the new building follows the adjacent structure’s courtyard‑closed layout: the continuous façade terminates in a gesture toward lower neighboring buildings, including a municipally protected building at the corner of Kinizsi Street.
From the outset, we recognized the significance of Markusovszky Square as a potential public park. There are few spaces in the city able to provide much‑needed greenery within a dense fabric for local residents. The development of the Károli Gáspár Reformed University’s new building complex—beyond designing buildings—provides the opportunity to properly organize the fragmentary Markusovszky Square, serving the diverse user community in a high‑quality way. By reinforcing its character as a public park and integrating it into the green‑space network of the dense urban fabric, we extend and complete its boundaries, surround it with protective, active edges, and rationally organize circulation. During daytime, the university’s public space remains open to local residents. The park functions as the green forecourt for the university and embraces its major public function: the sports hall.
Extension of the park can only succeed if development doesn’t render it fragmentary again. The building volume must remain sufficiently airy. To achieve this, the sports hall is sunken to the basement (–1. level). This has multiple advantages: the solid shell enclosing the competition hall is below grade, and above it the hall’s volumes become fully visible from the park level. One walks directly from the park into the lobby and the spectator area. At the competition‑floor level are changing rooms and smaller sports facilities—all functional links are there. In this way, the transparent volume of the sports hall floats in the park, surrounded by greenery. Within the enlarged park, only the hall’s transparent, walk‑around block intrudes, subdividing the area into zones of distinct character. As a contrast to the large public park, an intimate, atrium‑like space emerges—reminiscent of the tree‑planted courtyards of classic university campuses, and accessible to city residents during day. The protected piazza is animated on one side by the main entrance and on the other by café tables extending outward. In addition to the main park, the university gains its own designated rooftop garden atop the sports‑hall/library volume. The open development layout suggests transparency, permeability, and light.
We carefully reviewed the retained historic value of the tobacco‑warehouse building. In the spirit of historical memory and sustainable practice, our goal is to preserve the building as intact as possible. To accommodate the sports hall, the southern wing must necessarily be demolished, in accordance with the brief. Demolition of the northern interior wing would require rebuilding a new wing to connect the Üllői‑street and Kinizsi‑street parts—which we consider unsustainable. Instead, through functional rethinking, we retain the northern wing, preserving the historic courtyard façade in an L‑shape. The street frontage is protected: after replacing the roof structure, the original roof form will be restored, consistent with the cityscape. We intend the preserved courtyard façade to remain visible and become the main façade of the campus’s atrium—hence the sports hall is conceived as an independent element set respectfully apart. Educational rooms will occupy the existing wing, aligned with its structural grid and window rhythm. Interior design highlights its authentic values: the distinctive pillar-and‑girder steel structure remains exposed, and internal circulation weaves through existing vaulted staircase cores.
Instead of deep girders, the large span of the sports hall is bridged by Vierendeel‑type trusses. The floor‑high truss forms a square grid that houses and rhythmically articulates the library level—only the slim lower chord of the truss is visible at the ceiling of the gym. The “floating” library connects to the park‑framing building via a wider and a narrower internal bridge. These “bridges” circulate the university’s internal life like cloisters: the wider bridge forms a two‑storey stepped agora space, suitable for events. The cloister‑encircled atrium becomes a special “piazza,” with trees planted in grid rows, historic façades on two sides and new façades on the other two; in fine weather the café spills into this area.
The existing and new buildings are linked by the mass of the tower rising above the main entrance. Inside the tower, a full‑height hall organizes university life; at its highest point sits the chapel, which thus becomes the most prominent element of the entire ensemble.
Hőnich Richárd, Kenéz Gergely, Pálfy Máté, Mudry Luca, Szántó Hunor, Kolossváry Detti
Objekt Landscape Architecture Office
Education
Budapest IX. district
Education
Budapest IX. district
The main entrance of Károli Gáspár University’s new complex is located at the junction of old and new buildings, accessible from the public park. The park serves as a forecourt for assembling students. The hierarchy of the main entrance is defined partly by the covered‑open space beneath the bridge, and by the soaring chapel tower above. Access is expected primarily from Kálvin Square or Corvin Quarter. Alternative entrance points support integration into the city fabric: from Üllői út faculty and admin staff access their portion of the block; from Kinizsi Street the public café and bookstore open their doors. The sports hall, functioning independently from the institution, opens toward Biblia Street with a plaza body—this “University Square” strengthens the connection between the dorm and the new development. An underground garage serving cars and bicycles is accessible from Üllői út.
The former tobacco factory on Köztelek Street is remembered today through the warehouse still standing on Kinizsi Street, built in 1884 to a design by Gyula Berczik. In an 1888 archival site plan its outline is already visible. From archival drawings emerges a regular grid of steel beams and columns, interrupted only by the masonry circulation cores. The basement system of vaults is made of brick. Above grade, three levels of steel structure support a wooden attic incorporated into the third floor. Part of the building burned in 1904; the structure was rebuilt by the time of a 1946 archival map. In 1983 SKÁLA department‑store moved in, and archival materials show the Kinizsi Street façade in its original form—calm, proportionate roof, still unbuilt. Side entrances were limited, with only the Üllői‑Street‑facing entrance visible. In 1989 the roof was built into with offices; dormer windows foreign to the original form appeared, and another secondary entrance is visible in later plans.
To accommodate the sports hall, we will demolish the southern wing—but for sustainability, cost, and architectural reasons, we will retain the northern wing. The new Üllői‑Street wing and the remaining L‑shaped building are connected by the central hall opening from the main entrance, which organizes the ensemble across its full height.
Because the current wooden roof structure is unsound, a new structure is needed—offering an opportunity to rethink form. We will restore the original roof shape on the Kinizsi Street side, fitting into the cityscape. On the courtyard side, the façade is raised one level and the roof pitch reduced, creating generously lit and spacious attic rooms. A continuous corridor in the attic is brightly lit by a skylight band along the Kinizsi Street side.
Protected façade surfaces of the historic building are retained. The only unresolved issue is the “third floor’s” lack of daylight. To address this, inset wall panels are replaced with insulating glass‑brick walls that preserve the original window structure while enhancing light for classrooms.
The central hall is situated at the bridge connecting library, sports hall, and main stairwell. As a single fixed element, the agora’s stepped seating opens into the space. The communal stair not only connects the free library reading room on the first floor with the main circulation corridor in a bold gesture, but is also suitable for small lectures or between‑class relaxation. It is illuminated from above by skylights.
This double‑height opened space is furnished with movable furniture (chairs, tables, poufs, cushions, sofas), making use flexible. Cloakroom storage is provided by lockable cabinets (about 100 lfm) in the main stair area. On every floor there is water access and coffee machines in circulation spaces. Acoustic‑damping surface materials reduce echo and corridor noise. Flooring is gres tile; cold surfaces are softened by integrated wooden furniture, mobile seating, and slatted wood railings. At the third‑floor café, lightweight plastic chairs and tables facilitate flexible use and the possibility to locate outside on the terrace.
The new wing splits into large lecture halls facing the park and an office block facing Üllői út. Between them lies a widened corridor serving as foyer space for the halls. Vertical and horizontal interconnection across floors is enabled by large ceiling openings. The building is organized around an atrium bringing in natural light. The corridor serving office spaces and the wide, aula‑like circulation loop around the inner green space. Along this wide corridor, mechanical shafts are flanked by built‑in wooden furniture and rest‑study areas, supplemented by movable furnishings. Flooring is also gres tile. The atrium curtain‑wall grid, like the façade windows, is metal. Large lecture halls and stepped auditoriums feature acoustic wall and ceiling finishes, optimized for speech. Park‑facing glass walls are shaded by curtains that also act as acoustic absorbers. Lecturers have upholstered chairs; wall‑mounted fixed coat racks supply wardrobe storage. While large‑lecture furnishings are mobile, the auditoria interiors are fixed, terraced downward toward the board. Seats have folding wooden seats; tables have natural wood tops. Auditorium floors are industrial parquet.
The Üllői út side wing resembles modern office buildings: office rooms open off a central corridor; walls are drywall/plastered partitions allowing future reconfiguration. Rooms generally face the corridor, with glass doors and sidelights breaking up solid surfaces. Offices receive daylight from both the street façade and the atrium. Every floor has a shared built‑in kitchenette and movable dining table. Interiors feature high‑quality materials. With desk extensions and separate tables, consultations are possible. Carpet flooring, wood finishes, and comfortable modern office design are used. Larger meeting rooms open into corridors with glazed partitions.
The character of both library and sports hall is strongly shaped by the structural system, which also organizes interior space. On the upper level, white steel beams divide the library interior. Within this grid fit bookshelves, loggias, and in the center an office and plumbing core. Structures and built‑in shelves are in clean white and raw wood tones, providing a calm backdrop for books and study. Flooring is industrial parquet; study nooks are softened with carpets. Furnishings are plush, acoustically absorbing, improving room acoustics. Ceilings feature acoustic suspended panels. Tall shelving dividing the space is accessible via rolling ladders.
Flowing movement is structured by loggias; metal, wood and brick materials complement the park’s greenery. Large windows and skylights provide spacious, naturally lit library space; direct light is softened by trees, loggias and interior shading.
Intimate study areas form, with desks oriented toward the park and supplemented with direct reading lights.
A solid storage area for the library is located with functional connection in the basement, with PVC flooring.
The sports hall shares this aesthetic: exposed white metal structure creates rhythm in the space; visible mechanical systems and court layout fit into this system. Side walls of the sunken competition floor are clad in wood, integrated with climbing‑wall strips and wooden windows. The court features wooden sports flooring. Athlete areas are made of simple, high‑quality, durable materials. The gym’s special atmosphere is enriched by a historic brick‑vaulted space.
At grade, the sports hall’s glass curtain‑wall opens onto the park; spectator seating is warm wood; above, a light metal structure gallery‑corridor runs like a cloister. Shading is provided by a perforated‐brick façade, natural canopy, and interior shading.
Planned interventions on existing structures are minimal and associated only with functional changes. On lower floors this requires little alteration. A new lightweight steel‑framed roof structure is built atop the existing roof. Current information indicates the existing structure can support it. New parts of the building are mostly monolithic reinforced concrete constructions; the sports hall requires a long‑span steel structure.
Basements are built from reinforced concrete diaphragm walls. Reinforced‑concrete columns and walls support a thicker two‐way flat slab. This structural system continues in the street‑facing wing on upper levels, except in lecture hall zones. Lecture halls require larger clear spans, so deeper ribs and post‑tensioned reinforced‐concrete slabs are used.
Above the sports hall, a full‑height steel Vierendeel truss spans the large distance and supports the library’s open‑shelf area. The “bridge” connecting the two building parts is a monolithic concrete wall‑bearing element; due to its large openings it behaves structurally like a Vierendeel truss.
A church tower always serves as a spatial and spiritual landmark, helping orientation and serving as carrier of symbolic meaning. The tower rising above the university’s main entrance connects the existing tobacco warehouse and the new Üllői‑Street wing. The tower both defines the arrival point and—in its verticality—becomes the campus’s main focal element. Its monolithic mass is softened by perforation in the chapel wall with glass bricks, symbolically referencing known Reformed imagery in abstract form, addressing the university and Reformed community. Within the homogeneous raster perforation, the Calvin star gently emerges. In daylight the material shift is apparent; at night the light filtering through the glass bricks reveals a glowing star above the park.
The chapel ceiling is a contemporary expression of a traditional coffered ceiling, with the outer strip encircling glass—allowing the “divine light” to filter in from different directions at all times. The continuous movement of light reminds us of God’s continual presence. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Additionally, the brick cladding of the complex offers opportunities to integrate other Reformed symbols into façades: animal symbols (the phoenix representing resurrection, the fish for baptism and Jesus Christ, the pelican as a motif of sacrificial love toward children, the dove as symbol of the Holy Spirit, the rooster recalling Peter’s denial), and plant symbols (weeping willow, vine & grape‑rod, sheaf of wheat, palm tree), as well as the lamb bearing a banner, recalling Jesus as sacrificial lamb.
Façade Design & Opening Structure
The historic building features a distinctive façade articulation: besides horizontal façade divisions, the steel‑pillar grid extends onto the façade, making it network‑like. The panels lie slightly recessed relative to the structural grid. The sports hall–library block adopts this structure, but with a finer mesh. The park‑facing façade on Üllői út continues the mesh structure; façades facing Üllői út vary in proportion and articulation according to function.
In the eclectic urban fabric surrounding the site there is a strong tradition of brick cladding, used as wide, structural infill surfaces. Particularly notable are the lighter yellowish brick claddings—as seen on the tobacco warehouse. We selected bricks of the same color but different size and laying pattern for the new buildings—so as to both fit in and differentiate respectfully in a contemporary manner. The agorá bridge, the library and sports‑hall glass façades are shaded by brick cladding with gaps; each field varies in pattern and porosity, achieving unity and variety. On the Üllői út façade the ground floor is expressed as base in frost‑resistant, durable and noble Süttő limestone cladding. Süttő limestone is also used as lining for window reveals. Window frames are powder‑coated aluminum.
The Reformed University Campus and the associated Markusovszky Park are excellently located within the city structure and highly accessible. The surrounding architecture is of a high standard. Although the green‑area provision per resident in District IX is medium, the intensity of green space in the neighborhood of the park is relatively low—and increasing it is undeniably a strong social need. Markusovszky Park plays an essential role in the green‑space network of Inner Ferencváros. The surrounding city‑block is dense, metropolitan, and typically built in continuous rows; residents have a tremendous need for increased green‑space provision. Equally important from a user‑perspective is that usable, walkable, experiential functions should be accessible to the widest possible public. With Markusovszky Park, a community‑used green space can emerge—designed in an ecologically gentle, nature‑proximate way—not only for students and local residents but also appealing to visitors from other parts of the district.
The public spaces of the University Campus project are divided into two: Markusovszky Park and the university‑managed rooftop gardens. These two areas are tightly linked, in both functional and mental terms as well as in green‑space system design. During planning, coordinated operation and unity in landscape character and identity were primary concerns.
The park design reflects a purist spirit. Its paths and route system prioritize functionality: primary routes link main entrances; secondary paths gently slow movement. The visiting pedestrian’s physical and mental well‑being was considered: active sports functions and passive relaxation areas are placed within the lively heart of the university campus. The plan emphasizes both shaded and open lawn‑dominant areas to support diverse uses. Subtle topography and ground modulation organize spatial zones, complemented in places with furnishings.
Instead of the previous diagonal main promenade, the park’s circulation adopts a grid pattern, creating large contiguous green areas and consistently arranging functions along these axes. Considering pedestrian arrival paths, each university unit is logically accessible through the park, with adequate reception and event space interspersed. Besides bicycle storage in the underground garage, sufficient surface bicycle racks are provided. Campus buildings are barrier‑free accessible from the park.
All existing park functions will be retained: the playground, dog run, lawn‑play space, and outdoor fitness will be relocated, and supplemented by ping‑pong and foosball tables. Between building blocks, a water feature provides a unique micro‑climate. A restroom is available for visitors. Lighting is provided by energy‑efficient LED lamps, and security by surveillance cameras. The plan calls for large shade‑giving park trees and multi‑stem shrubs.