Szent Gellért sports hall in Budapest
Let yourself be buried
építész stúdió
The building makes no attempt to clash with the historic fabric of the school. That is very pleasing.
építész stúdió
Found
The Szent Gellért sports hall (Szent Gellért Terem) in Budapest is an outstanding example of building in existing structures – and not just for this purpose. It was built for the St. Margaret Grammar School in the 1930s.
The design by the Hungarian office építész stúdió was primarily determined by the much-cited genius loci. The site has a steep slope and offered enough space on a fallow area behind the school to accommodate the building and the necessary access areas.
The planners decided to bury the Szent Gellért sports hall. This has a serious impact on the appearance of the hall, its surroundings and, of course, its internal organization.
Disappeared
The visible size of the building is reduced by more than half. Behind the school, the terrain rises sharply, so large parts of the hall were hidden under the greenery of the slope.
The rear of the Szent Gellért sports hall has completely disappeared into the slope, with the side façades growing out of the site. The gallery level behind the south façade, on the other hand, is completely visible and opens up to the school with large glass surfaces.
The roof becomes the much-cited fifth façade – and can even be used as an additional playing field. The unusual ball catching system gives the whole thing an enormous sense of lightness – and provides a total contrast to the detailed school building.
Lost
The property and garden have an eventful history behind them. There used to be stately terraces here, but their character was lost during the Second World War. Most recently, the area lay fallow.
The restoration of this garden with its historic slope and the “roof terrace” for the playing field is not only extremely sensible from a functional point of view, it is also reminiscent of the neo-baroque predecessor of the Szent Gellért sports hall.
Organization
The hall is accessed via the rear of St. Margaret’s Grammar School, i.e. via the schoolyard. The entrance, changing rooms and showers for the athletes as well as the teachers’ and storage rooms are all located on the playing field level. This means short distances and saves time, which is of course also helpful for school sports.
Spectators reach the inside of the hall via the gallery level above. A spacious lobby with a view of the pitch leads guests to the stands.
Access and routes for athletes and spectators are therefore separate and lead to the heart of the hall, the playing field, on different levels. In addition to school sports, basketball, volleyball and fitness classes take place here – sometimes simultaneously.
The entrance areas are deliberately kept quiet. építész stúdió call them “a dark intermezzo” between the outside area and the light-flooded hall, which is in constant visual contact with the school thanks to the wide-open façade.
Restraint
The building makes no attempt to clash with the historic fabric of the school. That is very pleasing.
In keeping with this restrained approach, the planners used the simplest possible materials. Wood, glass and exposed concrete dominate. Where necessary for daily use, the concrete construction was lined with wooden surfaces.
The ball catch fence on the roof is formed by closely spaced, galvanized bar elements. Compared to the monolithic structure of the Szent Gellért sports hall, they appear almost transparent – or like a reward. The grid is strict, yet barely perceptible next to the school’s detailed monument.
Everything seems simple in the best sense of the word. You have to get that right first.
Project data
Architect
építész stúdió
1016 Budapest,
HU – Krisztina krt. 71
Building owner
Szent Margit Gimnázium
Opening
2020
Address
Photos
Gergely Kenéz
Text
Johannes Bühlbecker
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