Korda Film Park Visitor Center

Etyek, Hungary

Our concept of a “sheltering roof” extending over the hilltop has made the new Visitor Center of Korda Film Park a defining and central element of the film studio complex.

Etyek, Hungary

Education and Culture

The Korda Film Park is named after Sir Alexander Korda, a Hungarian-born film director and producer who was a key figure in the British film industry and the founder of London Films Studio. In recognition of his lifetime achievements, King George VI knighted him in 1942, making him the first filmmaker to receive such an honour. His brothers, Zoltán and Vince Korda, worked as producers and set designers on some of Hollywood’s greatest films in the first half of the 20th century. Continuing this legacy, since its opening in 2007, the studio has contributed to productions such as Ridley Scott’s The Martian and the 2016 film Inferno.

Our studio was commissioned to design a new visitor experience centre on the hilltop within the existing Film Park complex. The program’s functional spaces were divided into two building masses. The interactive film history exhibition is housed in a simple hall, designed with a purist aesthetic to seamlessly integrate with the existing studio architecture. In contrast, the visual and architectural focal point is the Visitors’ and Information Centre. Positioned at the heart of the Film Park and on its highest point, the building’s concept is centred on openness, offering an unparalleled panoramic view of the entire Film Park.

Korda Film Park Visitor Center – Photo: Zsolt Batár

The structure appears as a single, protective roof “floating” above the hill.

The light, hovering building mass is enhanced by the reflective water surface in front of it, which mirrors the façade and further amplifies its visual impact. From the interior, vast glass walls frame the vibrant life of the surrounding film sets, creating a dynamic, real-time “behind-the-scenes” experience. The building’s horizontal mass is simple and industrial yet retains an elegant and representative character. Its flexible space allows it to accommodate both everyday operations and large-scale events throughout the year.

The building is designed to be open and accessible, both visually and functionally. Its roof is supported by distinctive V-shaped reinforced concrete pillars, a motif that appears in negative on the closed concrete entrance wall. With its homogeneous and neutral design, the Visitor Center symbolizes stability – a steadfast anchor within the ever-changing, bustling environment of the Film Park. Its purpose is clear: to serve as a space for interaction, a meeting place, a shelter, and an observation point for both guests and studio staff.