József Attila Public Library, Makó

Architects: Imre Makovecz†, Judit Szente-Vargáné Gerencsér
Text: Eszter Götz
Photos: Zsófia Kedves, Tibor Zsitva

The building opened as the home of the public library in Makó 1971 had deteriorated hazardously by 2007. The first sketches for its reconstruction were made by Dezső Ekler in 1997. Back in those days the reconstruction of the existing structure was a priority. In 2006 Imre Makovecz revised the concept, and as a result, a new scheme was born. Meanwhile, public buildings designed by Makovecz mushroomed in the town: first, the Onion House was built in 1998 followed by the grammar school, the bus terminal, the gym hall, the nursery school, the main square and the grand scale baths complex introduced by the music pavilion. A new addition to these achievements is the three-storey new library with a floor plan of 1,800 square metres opened to the public in May, 2019.

Lead architects: Imre Makovecz†, Judit Szente-Vargáné Gerencsér
General design: MAKONA Kft.
Architects: Diána Cziráki-Mike, András Füzes, Virág Révai
City environment reconstruction: László Sáros – Sáros és Társa Bt.
Interiors: Gábor Mezei
Structure: László Pongor, Andrej Balog – Pond Kft.
HVAC: László Szalóky, Norbert Kiss – Kristályklíma Plusz Kft.
Electrical engineering: Dávid Sándor – SDesign Elektric Kft.
Garden design: György Szloszjár – Garten Studio
Elevator: Zsolt Makovsky – Makovsky és Tsai Kft.
Fire protection: Lajos Horváth
Environment rehabilitation: Ágota Ruttkay-Miklián – ESP 63-67 Építésziroda Bt.
Water mechanics: András Zöllei – Ganz Hydro Kft.
Road, outdoor public utilities: Attila Moldován – Kovimet Kft.
Outdoor electrical engineering: János Somogyi – Hirvill Kft.
Client: Makó Város Önkormányzata
Main contractor: Építészmester Zrt.
Roof structure: Mihály Filyó – Centrál Tető Kkt.