Váci 1 Retail Centre, Budapest

Architects: Christian Biecher, Zsolt Szécsi, Ágnes M. Juhász
Text: Sándor Csontó
Photos: Tamás Bujnovszky

The special commercial-architectural philosophy of the Orco Group is reflected in the reconstruction of Váci1 as a historic monument acquiring now a new function. After the success of the Parisian Department, the rebirth of the palace standing on the corner of Vörösmarty Square is a fine example of how the preservation of man-made heritage can be matched with 21st-century expectations of business. The building which is a dominant feature of the cityscape has been tarnsformed into a unique and stylish retail centre offering a variety of luxury fashion items by star architect Christian Biecher and his Hungarian fellow architects.

The monumental block of building was originally built to house a bank centre on the lot bordered by Deák Ferenc Street – Váci Street – Türr István Street after designs by Ignác Alpár in 1911-15. Offering exclusive spaces, first it was the home of the First Hungarian Savings Bank, then that of the Hungarian Investment Bank and of the State Development Bank, and finally that of the remodelled Budapest Stock Exchange. The four-storey building with a cortile was constructed by Lipták and Co., cooperating with many famous artisans and masters of the period cooperated: Gyula Jungfer as a wrought-iron maker, Miksa Róth as glassware maker and Gregersen Gudbrand as carpenter. The interior design and furnishing was made by Ödön Faragó artist-caftsman, whilst the reliefs and sculptures representing mythological themes were made in the workshop of Géza Maróti. There is now a newly constructed imposing stock exchange business room next to the two-storey high lounge behind the main entrance with a glass-roof. The walls are clad in coloured marble, whilst the floor is made of varied mettlachi mosaic. The street-level of the house has rooms with large glass expanses housing businesses from the very beginnings. The building was burnt down during World War II, and although minor damages were taken care of fairly soon, the comprehensive reconstruction project was only finished by 1988. The bank centre has been a historic monument since 1992 as a part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The real estate was sold at the end of 2005, and after tenants had moved out, the dream of investors could come true.
In the Hungarian commercial-real estate market it is most probably the projects with unique concepts that could make a break-through. They are retail developments in downtown Budapest uniting the special architecture with the original commercial offer. The success of the method is proven by a large number of international examples such as Stefansplatz in Vienna or Palladium Shopping Centre in Prague. This is what Orco had in mind, and has also found the right location and a suitably daring designer for the project. Christian Biecher learnt the importance of conceptual approach from his master, Bernard Tschumi. After his well-known designs such as the Carcassonne County Library, the Sora Community House in Japan, the Harvey Nichols retail house in Hong Kong he received this commission in Budapest as the winner of an invitational tender, the first designs of which were made by Kőnig and Wagner Architects. During the development of Váci1 the tasks of general execution and construction were fulfilled by Hérosz Zrt., whilst the restorers of Renaissance Stonemasonry Zrt. restored the old glory of the spaces rich in historic details. From the aspect of heritage protection Váci1 ranks as an exemplary development: the majority of the building has been facelifted in its material reality, with ornaments almost more beautiful than they had been when new. It is an unquestionable achievement that the values represented by heritage protection could be matched with the concepts of the developer, and thus the values of the original building could be salvaged almost to the full, and be alloyed in a unique way with elements of modern contemporary architecture.

The historic entrance opens from Vörösmarty Square: here one must slalom between the bonbons of a confectioner’s shop to get in. Previously a new building part was constructed above the glass-roofed room housing the stock exchange business room which thus received artificial illumination now. The mezzanine and this exclusive space shall be home to one of the largest department store-type commercial units of the retail house with 2,000 m². The reconstructed historic spaces, the foyer, the stairhall graced with glass windows designed by Miksa Róth organically integrate into the modern commercial spaces. Besides interior demolitions only a few structures had to be rebuilt, two staircases had to be relocated, and the foundation needed restrengthening. The struts were coated and made more stable, re-wrapped in their original materials. The wonderfully renewed exterior facade is enveloped in an almost invisible glazed projecting roof. From Váci Street we can enter the building via an imposing foyer with a large interior height. Stairs, panoramic elevators and escalators help us to access every level easily. The articulation of the building has a human scale. Architectural solutions by Biecher are respectful, tasteful and varied, whilst also showing the characteristics of contemporary architecture. The centrally positioned atrium space has a floor with a facework of large-size Art Nouveau style tiles which continue the enlarged patterns and design of the old tiles of the building. The roofing above the former cortile was demolished and thus now natural light filters into the atrium through the thick glass panes between the large steel beams. Every business unit opens into a wide luxury porch embracing the spacious five-storey atrium in the centre.
The most characteristic feature of Váci1 is the omnipresent pierced and eloxated golden-coloured aluminium shroud with a total expanse of 1,600 square metres. The mysterious and challenging gold lace has an oriental and hypermodern effect. Viewed from the atrium we could feel like the odalisques of an exclusive harem when passing among a variety of textiles and perfumes in a timeless space. Some of the wittiest solutions of Christian Biecher are the strikingly daring red-coloured „open lightwelled” panoramic elevators. Just like live arteries, they rhythmically move up and down between the levels. In the basement floors there is a restaurant, a bar and units of entertainment, one of them being the first Hard Rock Café in Hungary. The roof level also houses an exclusive restaurant, the two circular bastion-like terraces of which have a breathtaking panoramic view of the Buda Hills and downtown Pest. With a total area of 11, 000 m2 for rent the retail house opens in October with 80 unique brands on offer awaiting customers.

General design: CBA – Christian Biecher & Associes
Advanced permit design:
Kőnig és Wagner Építészek Kft.
Architects: Szécsi Zsolt, M. Juhász Ágnes – Örökségvédelmi
Tervező és Szolgáltató Kft.
Fellow architects: Kozma Klára, Baksa Péter,
Dénes Katalin, Szenthe Ágoston – Örökségvédelmi Tervező és
Szolgáltató Kft.
Structure: Markovits Péter, Bécser Pál – Markovits Kft.
M&E design: Ordódy Péter – Ordódy Kft.
Electrical engineering: Lisys Zrt., Kovács Lászlóné
Homonnay Zsuzsanna, Sándor Dávid – Inter Ház Bt.
lient: Váci 1 Kft.
Main contractor: Hérosz Zrt.