Architecture/education 2014, the Conference of MMA and MÉSZ, 2014 June 11

Text and photos: Dominika Vámos

The Hungarian Academy of Arts and the Association of Hungarian Architects organized a conference early this summer titled „Architecture/education 2014” which has proven to be surprisingly dynamic, spectacular and cheerful. This is most probably the result of an efficient co-operation between the two organizers, Mihály Balázs and Gábor Turányi, as well as of the fact that remarkably numerous young participants attended the event. The conference focused on the topic of community building which is a unique life-principle of Hungarian architects at present. A most convincing proof of this is the Hungarian participation in the Venice Biennale with a similar topic. This phenomenon appears like a movement meant to function as a by-pass to import spiritual-intellectual recreation into the practices of the profession which has suffered much owing to economic and other crises and has been deprived of its vision of the future, and features now a slightly conflicted self-image. The natural foundations of professionals specialised in architecture are formed by architect students and young architects who tend to be more and more active internationally.