Restoration Project, Fasor Lutheran Church, Budapest

Architects: Piroska Varga, Zoltán Berzsák
Text: Zoltán Dragon
Photos: József Hajdú

The church of the Reformed Parish of Budapest-Fasor was designed by Aladár Árkay in 1913. The condition of the structure has deteriorated considerably in recent decades, and its design deficiencies have become increasingly apparent meanwhile. Both these issues were attempted to be addressed in a major renovation project taking place in the 1980s, but the architectural intervention was not really based on heritage conservation and thus the result did not reflect the conditions at the time of construction. Almost thirty years later, a new problem was encountered: the church itself was not accessible without obstacles. So Zoltán Berzsák, one of the architects of the current restoration project, was commissioned to design a garden and bridge the difference in level. Another ten years later, the complete renovation took place, with Piroska Varga designing the entire exterior façade. During the restoration, the original sgraffito, Zsolnay ceramics and glass and tin work also were restored. The renovation of the interior, managed by Zoltán Berzsák, involved the refurbishment of all the mechanical installations and the adaptation of the heating and cooling system to the future installation of a heat pump system. One of the cornerstones of the renovation of the church was the modernisation of the lighting system and features.

Facade renewal
Client: Budapest-Fasor Lutheran Parish
Lead architect: Piroska Varga DLA – Grafit Studio
Project architects: Zoltán Tömpe, Gergely Lezsovits
Fellow architects: Dorottya Répay, Bianka Gizella Somkutas, Sára Torma
Built heritage experts: Gergely Domonkos Nagy Dr, Piroska Varga DLA
Glass restoration: Ágnes Herczeg, Károly Payer
Silicate ceramic restoration research: Klára Csáki
Silicate ceramic restoration: Károly Payer
Framework: Károly Nagy
HVAC: Róbert Kristyán
Painting restoration: János Maszelka, István Bóna DLA
Structure: János Laczkovics
Building diagnostics: Attila Kövesi
Sgraffito: István Bóna DLA
Stone restoration: Dániel Lovas
Electrical engineering: Dávid Sándor
Fire protection: Gabriella Pukánszky, Zoltán Vásárhelyi, Rita Bencsné Agócs
Timber protection: László Papp
Laser scanning: Máté Sipos

Interior renewal
Client: Budapest-Fasor Lutheran Parish
General planning: 4 plusz Architect Studio
Lead architect: Zoltán Berzsák
Fellow architects: Miklós Gerák, Barna Berzsák, Blanka Eperjesi
Structure: Balázs Puskás
HVAC: László Berzétei
Electrical engineering: Nóra Károlyi
Fire protection: Gergő Érces Dr
Silicate and metal restoration: Károly Payer
Painting restoration: Krisztina Rácz
Stone restoration: Dániel Lovas
Wood restoration: Péter Zágoni
Project co-ordination: Katalin Fürjesné Péntek Dr
Main contractor: Tandart Ltd.