Cyclists’ Tourism Centre and Local History Museum, Szerencs

Architect: Miklós Salamin
Text: Ivett Madár
Photos: György Dénes

The Sugar Factory in Szerencs was founded in 1889. During its 120 but one years of existence the town also underwent radical changes and development. The chocolate factory was launched in 1923 but developed only after the arrival of Frigyes Liachti who came here from Switzerland. The owner of the sugar factory closed down his business finally in 2008, but the store which was part of it was revived and thus heralds positive changes: the building was given a second chance by receiving new functions and now serves as cyclists’ tourism centre as well as a museum of local history. From beneath the peeling plasterwork masonry and brick walls appeared. This brave decision makes the house really exciting when viewed from the outside. Former interventions that wounded the brick texture make the walls even more exciting as they are mixed types: typical of the region of Tokaj-Hegyalja were the walls built from brick and stone. The row of bricked-in windows and brick rings wrapping round the facade reveal the original three-storey design of the structure. The new function required new interventions that were implemented as modestly as possible. As a result, there is a steel-timber structure porch now on the longer block facing the yard, which also reveals the chronology of the construction stages. However, the selection of materials used here integrate the old and new parts of the building and thus it seamlessly fits into the architectural unity. The T-shaped block allowed for the smooth and undisturbed co-existence of the double function, the simultaneous maintenance of the cyclists’ centre and the museum of local history.

General design: Axis Kft.
Leading architect: Miklós Salamin
Fellow architects: Judit Bozsik, Zsolt Korda
Structure: Zoltán Pataki – Mepa Expert Kft.
HVAC: Zsolt Szilágyi – Energo-Tallér Kft.
Electrical engineering: Gábor Münnich – Fényesvölgy Kft.
Public utilities: Gábor Papp – PK.Terv Kft.
Client: Szerencs Város Önkormányzata
Main contractor: Szivárvány-Ép Kft.