Lóczy Cave Visitor Center, Balatonfüred

Architect: László Mezei
Text: Tamás Kiss
Photos: László Mezei

The reception building of the Lóczy cave at the foot of the Tamás mountain on the northern edge of Balatonfüred was recently opened. The building connected to the cave, which was discovered in the 19th century and can be visited since the first half of the 20th century, is located in an abandoned mining area, in front of the cave’s artificially open entrance. The house shows a double contrast: a part of the building with an easily pierced, flat roof is connected to a part of the building with a high roof that appears as a strict, monolithic block with a few openings. We see a simple and honest use of materials here: raw exposed concrete and rustic roof tile surfaces. It is as if the architecture was shaped by some kind of exciting geological and architectural process at the same time. As a result of this process, the architectural form was born. The unplastered brick walls, which at first glance seem unfinished, communicate with the strong materiality of the external facades, and at the same time prepare the raw material appearance of the underground cavity.

General planning, architecture: Pápai Architects Ltd.
Leading architect: László Mezei
Structure: Imre Szabó – Traverz-50 Ltd.
HVAC, water utilities: Ervin Horváth – ÉPGÉP Ltd.
Electrical engineering: Ernő Füle – Produkt Ltd.
Traffic facilities: Klára Macsinka – Mobil City Ltd.
Fire protection: Krisztián Garabics