IBS – Aquincum Campus, Graphisoft Park

Architect: Kajdócsi Jenő
Text: Botzheim Bálint
Photos: Zsitva Tibor

The buildings formerly belonging to the Gas Works within the premises of Graphisoft Park are protected historic monuments and unique in being so as the structures of the Park are predominantly works of contemporary architecture. International Business School (IBS) moved to the area of Aquincum Campus in 2014 according to a long-term contract of cooperation, where also the Aquincum Institute of Technology (AIT) is located. Another aspect also contributing to the choice of this site was the fact that the atmosphere of the gas works complex built at the beginning of the century in a Historicist-Art Nouveau style evokes the familiar milieu of colleges for students coming here from the USA. The reconstruction of the buildings had two stages. In 2011 the offices of IBS were moved into the former administrative building which had been converted to meet the new functions, whilst in 2014 the classrooms were moved into the social welfare building and the library to the former workshops building after both buildings had been facelifted. The basic principle of the reconstruction project was the preservation of the original structures. The stone plinth of the renewed facade, the delicate masonry and plasterwork architectures, the ornate eaves, the restored windows now make up a live composition evoking fin-de-siécle Art Deco Zeitgeist. Contemporary interventions in the forms of concrete-steel-glass structures are purposefully contrasted with the ornate buildings.

Leading architect: Jenő Kajdócsi
Fellow architects: Eszter Kajdócsi, Péter Molnár, Zoltán Thuróczy
Structure: Tamás Méri – TaDa Logic Kft.
HVAC: Ferenc Sződy – Sződy és Társa Kft.
Electrical engineering: Ferenc Kelemen – Kelevill Kft.
Monument preservation expert: Tamás Tóth
Fire protection: Levente Szöllősi – Tűzinfo.hu Bt.
Garden design: György Szloszjár – Garten Stúdió
Acoustics: Gusztáv Józsa – Józsa és Társai 2000 Kft.
Client: Graphisoft Park Ingatlanfejlesztő Kft.