Almásy Mansion, Visitors’ Centre, Gyula

Architects: László Földes, Csaba Balogh
Text: Edit Pálinkás
Photos: Tamás Bujnovszky

The very first building of the mansion in Gyula was built by János György Harruckern, who was given the area as a reward for his services to King Charles III of Hungary after the withdrawal of the Turkish conquerors from the country. The Baroque-style structure of the building was created by his son, Ferenc Harruckern. After World War II the mansion was nationalized by the state to function first as various schools, later on to house a care home for newborn babies. In the 1960s the majority of the landscaped park belonging to the mansion was used as a thermal baths complex. The building was gradually evacuated in the 1990s. Preparations prior to the renovation project were launched in 2011, whilst implementation started in 2014 after winning an EU tender. During archaeological excavations the old ancillary building of the mansion was exposed: it had been pulled down in the 1700s as part of the extensive transformation of the complex. In a certain part of the souvenir shop a glass floor expanse exhibits the remains of this structure. The Baroque-style main kitchen of the mansion has also been revealed. The basic principle of the whole reconstruction project, its modern design and technology, as well as the contemporary furniture and decorative painting come to create a harmony of unique character. A welcome extra addition to all this effect is that each piece of furniture is a remake tailor-made to their original designs, in line with the comprehensive organic concept, which is a result of close cooperation between the architect and curator. The exhibition integrates the presentation of values of architecture, fine arts and life-style history by relying upon tools of modern digital technologies as well as by applying the traditional chronological approach of exhibitions.

Architecture: Földes és Társai Építésziroda Kft.
Leading architects: László Földes, Csaba Balogh
Fellow architects: Johanna Csűri, Ágnes Deigner, Tamás Holics, Levente Sirokai, Péter Sónicz, Ágnes Vértesy
Structure: Zoltán V. Nagy, István Szopkó – Lapidárium Mérnöki Kft.
HVAC: Attila Lucz – HVArC Mérnöki Iroda Kft.
Electrical engineering: Judit Balázs, Péter Balázs – Artvill Mérnöki Iroda Kft.
Gardening: Szászné dr. Adrienn Várkonyi – Szász Kert Bt.
Interiors, installations: Földes és Társai Építésziroda Kft., Konkrét Stúdió Kft.
Leading interior designers: László Földes, Csaba Balogh
Interios designer: Balázs Szlabey
Fellow interior designers: Ágnes Deigner, Levente Sirokai, Péter Sónicz
Curator of the exhibition: Gábor Sz. Szilágyi
Fellow curator: Zsófia Lukács
Concept: Zsolt Virág
Design, art director: Péter Flanek
Interiors: Rita Igaz, Zsófia Lukács, Balázs Semsey, Péter Tóth G.
Lighting concept: Ferenc Haász
Client: Gyula Város Önkormányzata, dr. Ernő Görgényi Mayor
Main contractor: Modinvest Építőipari– Beruházó- és Kereskedelmi Kft., Stilfa Kft.