Csillagerőd, Komárom

Architect: István Mányi
Text: Tamás Kiss
Photos: József Hajdú

Csillagerőd, which translates into English as Star Fortress in Komárom achieved its condition which was the starting point for the current reconstruction between 1850 and 1870. At the time of its construction it was rated as one of the most significant defensive system in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, but as the importance of the fort lessened and war technology developed, it was soon outdated. At the beginning it contained military barracks, ammunition store, then an international camp, later on emergency housing and a vegetable depot. As of today, the reconstructed and extended fort complex houses parts of the collection of 19th-century gypsum replicas that belong to the Museum of Fine Arts. The building consists of thee parts now: the star shaped defensive ring with Italian bastions, the C-shaped inner fort slightly opened towards the river Danube andthe new central hall structure. Exhibition pieces are systematically displayed in the winding corridors on the exterior margins of the fort, their extensions, the minor bastions as well as in cell-like exhibition rooms opening from the corridors. The configuration of the exhibition responds to the exceptional spatial faculties with exciting transparencies. The reconstruction of the Star Fort produced a cultural facility by a dual salvage of values excellently executed.

Leading architect: István Mányi – Mányi Stúdió Kft.
Architects: Gábor Kardos, Zsófia Réka Szontágh, Dániel Mányi, Krisztina Németh, Ákos Perge – Mányi Stúdió Kft.
Interiors: László Gergely, László Zobor– Studio G. Bt.
Structure: Lajos Szabó, István Molnár, László Schnieder – Du-Plan Kft.
HVAC: Gábor Szigyártó, Attila Pitkó, Lajos Tóbiás – Smg-Sisu Kft.
Electrical engineering: György Kapitor, Zsolt Aranyos – Smg-Sisu Kft.
IT technology: István Csányi – Kvinterv Kft.
Kitschen technology: Gizella Kuruczné – Design Studio Kft.
Elevator: Miklós Tóth – TM-Lift Kft., Wölfl Richárd
Fire protection: Sándor Venczel† – Tűz-Ért-Ő Bt.
Environment: Sarolta Torma, Anikó Andor, Ildikó Zsovák, Attila Szűz, Júlia Anna Thurnay – LAND-A Kft.
Roads: Ádám Rhorer – Közlekedés Kft.
Structural details: Ferenc Barta – Barta Építésziroda Kft.
Insulation: Miklós Vaszari – Méhes Renoszig Kft.
Scientific documentation: Réka Kralovánszky, Zoltán Szabó– SZAKRA Kft.
Exposed concrete: László Kapu
Management: Zsófia Bajzik, Barbara Földes, István Hőnich – Liget Zrt.; Antal Kőszegi – Museum of Fine Arts; Pál Sándor, Andrea Tasi – FŐBER Kft.
Main contractor: FÉSZ Zrt., Épkar Zrt.
Restoration: László Czifrák – Consall Team Kft., Szabolcs Csányi; Péter Zágoni, Zsolt Kóbor – Artárium Stúdió Kft.; Attila Kovács