Benedict Hotel, Kőszeg

Architect: Robert Gutowski
Text: Tamás Kiss
Photos: Tamás Bujnovszky

The unique atmosphere of downtown Kőszeg in Vas county is a result of its rich historic past and precious man-made heritage including numerous protected buildings. Recently, several houses have been renewed in its centre as a result of a cooperation with Robert Gutowski and his fellow architects. A decision to utilize and renovate the badly deteriorated buildings worth salvaging was made to contain the functions necessary for research work within the institution – such as libraries, research labs, accommodation for scientists, etc. As a part of this „package” the originally Baroque-style former Benedictine covent has also been renovated to provide accommodation for researchers and to be used as a hotel. With modest attitudes, the inclusion of the hotel functions was realized by adapting to the configuration of the rooms defined by the original vaultings. We have not seen any contemporary architectural solutions, which was the result of a deliberate decision of the designers. Consequently, the masonry frames of the openings and the structures with frames of sophisticated profiles have been exposed after restoring them to their original beauty. The opposites of all these principles are reflected by the simple components of the interior design of the house: unadorned, high-standard furniture and carpentry structures reflect on the essence of the fine geometry of the old white, clean walls and vaults.

Client: Asztrik Várszegi Asztrik Dr, Congregatio Hungarica Ordinis Sancti Benedicti
Leading architect: Robert Gutowski – Robert Gutowski Architects
Architects: Barnabás Dely-Steindl, Panna Varga
Interiors: Barnabás Dely-Steindl, Panna Varga
Fellow architects: László Kovács Hunor, Gáspár Bollók, Béla Ákos Szokolay, Gergely Lőrincz, Csongor Mizser, Balázs Rózsvölgyi, György Busics, Sándor Horváth, Gergely Tombi, Beáta Bakonyi, Orsolya Vass, Gábor Sisa