Extension of the Roman Catholic Parish, Pestszentimre

Architect: Zoltán Kovács
Text: Nóra Ostoróczky
Photos: Zoltán Kovács

The community of Pestszentimre has been dreaming of their own centre which was built in 2020 and is referred to in their own publication as ,,our house”. The church yard with a unique milieu has been the venue for such events before, but recent developments necessitated new spaces. The first steps to built them were made by the members of the congregation and the parish to save up and collect for many years, and then, in a design contest, they chose the entry submitted by a collective studio to have the parish building extended for various purposes and functions, resulting in modifiable spaces as changing needs require. The construction of the house was a genuine community activity, involving offers, contributions and help also from outsiders. Parallel with one of the main traffic routes in Pestszentimre is a porch, whilst the axis of a passage widened into a community space guides us towards the church. This connection is reinforced thus visually and physically, along the paved path we directly arrive from the porch at the square outside the church, and through the large openings that pierce the facade of the building the church itself is revealed. The glass expanses towards the street are not only actual openings allowing for the permeability of the house in several ways, but also reflect the openness of the community towards the outside world. The materials used, the facework, the proportions and dimensions of spaces all suggest that there is nothing more or less here than necessary.

General architecture: kollektív műterem Kft.
Leading architect: Zoltán Kovács
Fellow architects: Noémi Butoi, Orsolya Máté, Evelin Serfőző, Domonkos Ujfalussy, Gábor Nagy, Dániel Vermes
Structure: István Kenese† – Kenese Mérnöki Iroda Kft.
HVAC: Zsolt Hertelendy
Electrical engineering: Zoltán Molnár
Fire protection: Csaba Szökő
Outdoor public utilities: Attila Bíró – InfraPlan Kft
Client: Roman Catholic Parish of Pestszentimre
Main contractor: BAMAX Work Kft.
Technical supervisor: AVEPLAN Kft.