«The Valley Spirit never dies. It is named the Mysterious Female. And the Doorway of the Mysterious Female is the base from which Heaven and Earth sprang. It is there within us all the while; Draw upon it as you will, it never runs dry.» – Laozi: Tao Te Ching

Creation in the nature

Spaces for collective and individual creation stand in focus of our concept, both in physical and in theoretical sense. Our design principle was to create various but always dense connection with nature.

On the two sides of the stream

We grouped the functions into three units taking aspects of parallel use and facility management into consideration, as well. Proposed lodgings set in the harmonious row of houses of Árpád Street and adapt to the scale, form and material of the dwelling-houses. It represents a transition between parallel and normal building development types to the street.

Buildings on the eastern side of the stream do not reach the height of the houses on Szőnyi Street. From the lookout terrace above the retaining wall we can have a view over their amazing world. The sauna pavilion leaning against the wall is located near by the home beach at the little stream. The unique volume of the creative hut of artists including a flower garden stands in a birch grove. The ring built up of the galleries, hall and service rooms turns outwards so that its inner band serving as a common outdoor work-, exhibition and event space can retain its clear surface.

Between garden-gates

The garden of the creative hut of artists is a birch grove with flowers, which positions the building in a wider context between the Danube and the Börzsöny Hills. As if the house – like a thicket of the forest – set its limit and created its clearing where attention is drawn to the sky. The grove itself is open for everyone to stroll across, whereas cars have to be left outside along Szőnyi Street. Solely service and accessible entry are allowed to the valley from downwards.

Round and round and bound

In the ring of the creative hut service facilities are placed along the retaining wall, while the hall faces a separate garden with its kitchen lying close to the service entrance. The artists’ studios got the most favourable position. They are intensely connected with the birch grove and generate an inspiring ambience for creation, while they build up a row of intercommunicating rooms. The structure of the house is made up of an inner wall bending slightly inwards towards the upper section and of a wooden column-beam roof resting on it.

The yard of free shape surrounded by white walls serving as an exhibition surface can be interpreted as the innermost room of the house. Its meticulously decorated upper section bends above the garden and creates a circular porch. The garden is a flowery meadow, first of all, with a large paved area for collective creation or gathering. In this big circle we search for the spiritual power of Mother Earth to join people coming here from different places to a powerful cultural community.