Apartment Building in Hajdúszoboszló

The architectural concept was inspired by the previous community function of the location. The apartments of the mixed-use buildings were elevated to a patchwork-like green carpet, while the commercial and transportation functions are separated, designed on the street level.

Due to its thermal water, Hajdúszoboszló is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the countryside. Thanks to the constant progress of infrastructure, this location has become faster to access from Debrecen as well. Meeting the demands, there are more and more holiday resorts and apartment buildings in the area. Our studio was requested to design a mixed use, commercial and residential function on the plot right next to the thermal bath.

The location used to function as a marketplace and gardening store. Honouring these, our concept intended to evoke the atmosphere of a community garden with masses blending in with the environment. A platform elevated above the pavement level is the centre element of our concept setting the garden apart from the street level and providing intimacy. In addition it also separates the street level commercial functions and transportation from the residential levels above it.

We loosely market out the places of smaller and larger residential masses, terraces, community gardens and landscaped in a pixel-like pattern. The combination of various-sized saddle roof masses placed in a grid constitutes the basic elements of the densely planted garden. In the centre there is a three-storey building with an open circulation zone running along its longitudinal axis. Around this there are individual or grouped one-storey houses. The different size flats, houses and gardens in the grid are connected by a network of pedestrian paths. The overall picture is like a patchwork characterized by geometrical rules and random factors. On the plot, which is surrounded by public spaces and streets on all sides, the green garden elevated on a platform looks like an island in the urban fabric.