Debrecen International School

Architect: Péter Bordás
Text: Dávid Bán
Photos: György Palkó

Located on the outskirts of Debrecen, the International School designed by BORD Architects is gently trying to loosen up the framework of traditional school systems, an ambition reflected in its designs treating it freely and more transparently. The management of the city made a decision to fund and establish a genuinely modern new prestigious school. As a result, BORD Architects were commissioned to design the International School of Debrecen as the studio has been working on defining schemes and projects of the modernizing city, which is the largest in the Great Hungarian Plain. Péter Bordás and his team ambitioned clarity, airiness, lightness and transparency. The architectural concept was defined by the circle motief, by which designers wish to represent the spirit of the school, as well as its nexus. Configured as a semi-circle open towards the forest, the system of pavilions containing the rooms join each other like a hive, and also efficiently communicate with the other parts of the building. Instead of the traditional closedness of the designs, the corridor here serves as a venue for meetings and openness, from where we have an insight in each room through the glass doors and walls. The rooms themselves are designed to accommodate interactions of groups with only a few students, and thus are freely changeable, but basically feature flexible furniture arranged like islands. The circular form encloses with the outer spaces, and becomes complete whilst reaching into the neighbouring forest, with its centre containing the external and internal sports facilities.

Architect: Péter Bordás
Interior design: Péter Bordás
Garden, landscape: Péter Bordás
Structure: Zsigmond Dezső – Hydrastat Mérnökiroda
HVAC: Zoltán Hollókövi – Bord Építész Stúdió
Electrical engineering: Zoltán Üveges – Artrea Consulting Kft.
Automatization: Róbert Hadházi – Smartnode Kft.
Acoustics: Róbert Csott – ’95 Apszis Bt.
Fire protection: Bendegúz Csuba – Ventor Kft.
Kitchen technology: Ágnes Palainé Straub – Stigmavill Mérnöki Bt.
Traffic: Imre Gulyás – Gulit Kft.
Accessibility: Bernadett Babits – Ép-Gép CAD Bt.
Main contractor: HUNÉP Zrt.