According to the development plans of the XI.
District, the “Mushroom” building at Móricz Zsigmond Square will be established as part of the Cultural City
Centre Program. According to the program a cultural main street will introduced
along Bartók Béla Street between Móricz and Gellért Square. We consider the “Mushroom” building as the gate of this axis.
We belive that - because
the size of the existing building is not suitable for the accomodiation of such
institutions - the only way to make more space is to design the expansion below
the ground. This concept turned out to be advantageous after examining both
urban and architectural standpoints: in such way the building can be easily
connected to the local transport system at both the level of the underpasses
and the level of the new subway line nr.4. The new building provides entirely
new spaces under the ground level without disturbing, thus respecting the
protected and landmark-like „Mushroom“. The new spaces are seperated from the above
ground life and are trying to attain simplicity in their forms and colours. The
aim is to provide platform for as many functions as possible. This simple
architectural design communicates with the historical building layout through the
similar capsule-like form of the cafeteria, thus integrating new and old.