Csokonai Forum, Debrecen

Architects: András Tisza, Tamás János Szabó
Text: Eszter Götz
Photos: György Palkó

A new theatre was born in the city of Debrecen, ending and completing a long process of conceptualisation and design. However, its presence in the urban context is only manifested in the conceptual level, as the country’s most modern theatre was built on the floors of the Fórum Shopping Centre, which was opened at the end of 2008. The idea of a new theatre was first mentioned in 2005, when the city applied for the title European Capital of Culture 2010. The concept for the theatre was developed by János Csányi, then director of Bárka Theatre in Budapest. He proposed a cross-border, regional, multi-functional theatre that would go beyond the traditional concept of theatres in the countryside. The plan included launching an annual international theatre festival and also the foundation of a Debrecen theatre academy. As the Fórum Debrecen Shopping Centre was already under construction in the city centre, it was just logical to contain the new theatre complex on the upper floors of the building. After more than a decade and a half of waiting for it to be completed, the new theatre complex finally opened here. Three performance halls have been furnished on over a total area of 9,000 m2: Zoltán Latinovits Hall with a seating capacity of 350, the 150-seat Árpád Kóti Hall and the 100-seat multi-functional Orfeum, which also hosts theatre productions.

Client: Municipality of Debrecen
Leading architects: József Finta Dr, Tamás János Szabó DLA – Finta and Co., András Tisza – “A” Studio ’90
Architects: Zsolt Szabó, Gábor Péter, Örs Tömösi, Gyöngyi Kalmár, András Koncsol, Gabriella Völgyi, Szabolcs Tenkely, Roland Banu, Norbert Nyitrai, Norbert Kótai, Béla Szabó, Péter Feffer, József Szalai, Gergely Tomku, Anett Balogh, Benjámin Hawrlant, Bianka Kocsmár, József Nagy, Renáta Pavalacs, Eszter Szilágyi, Mihály Szilágyi, Sándor Tar
Interiors: Balázs Balogh DLA, Emese Balogh DLA, Mária Baloghné Patocskai, Bence Balogh – Balogh Balázs Architects
Structure: Zsigmond Dezső, Attila Kocsis – Hydrastat Ltd.
HVAC: László Temesvári, Tibor Borsos, László Gábor Kovács, Erzsébet Görgeyné Bihary, János Bukovics, Katalin †Beck, Tamás Terék, Béla Bodó, Zoltán Verbai Dr
Electrical engineering: Ferenc Kelemen – Kelevill-FZ Ltd.
Fire protection: Sándor Herperger †, Dániel Danók
Stage technology: Lőrinc Strack†; Zsuzsa Tompa – Színházterv Ltd.
Acoustics, environment protection: Gusztáv Józsa, Attila Nagy
Sounds, audio-visual technology: Géza Balogh Dr, Ferenc Vollár – Interton Ltd.
Light technology: János Pelyhe, Attila Jerzsa – Pelyhe Ltd.
Sprinkler system: Gyula Scharbert, Gergely Bánó, László Zoltán Körtvélyessy
Fire indicating system: Imre Zaka – ASM Projekt Ltd.
Environment: Gábor Szabó – Tér-Team Ltd.
Kitchen technology: Erzsébet Kovács
Accessibility: Zsolt Sipos – Japáner-b Ltd.
Elevators, escalators: Lajos Balogh – Otis Ltd.