Corvinus University Opens New Building

The architects Antal Lázár, Zoltán M. Oláh and László Szerdahelyi, and the interior designer Gábor Szokolyai, have created a building which is in harmony with the environment around it but which moves to its own beat on the inside. The waves of the Danube are reflected on the greenish glass plates attached to the yellow stone façade, and even though one cannot see as far as the opposite side of the river, this design element demonstrates an endeavour to continue the surrounding architectural heritage.

 

The two side facades of the new Corvinus building are adjusted to the area's typical building heights and proportions. The complex also includes an underground garage and it houses offices in its two side wings. Approaching the building through the main entrance, one enters the atrium where the lights are reflected on the thick sheet metal encased columns. A dark sphere hangs above. This signals an entry to the 21^st century, the border between the city and the university.

 

Staircases start from the two sides of the assembly hall, and there is an information desk to the left. The colours of the interior are a retro black and orange with some metallic grey. The large orange fibreglass surface which occupies an entire floor on the back wall shows a digital display but it takes some time to figure out that the flashing dots are joined together into numbers - showing the time.   

  

The building's atrium reaches five floors. From it radiate corridors leading to lecture halls, classrooms and study areas.

 

The 5,000-square-metre library is sheathed with a glass façade that connects the two floors and allows visitors to see the entire array of stacks. On the opposite side, the atrium attaches to a bubble housing a 500-seat lecture hall.

 

The building is filled with natural light from the atrium and skylights in other spaces. But students who need a break can visit the 5^th floor terrace which offers a spectacular view of the Danube River.

 

Author: Eszter Götz