Architecture modernizes of the traditional Hungarian farmstead by A. Varsányi, P. Pozsár, N. Vas

modern Hungarian farmstead
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

Hungarian architects build on the past with this inventive design for a house built in the Great Hungarian Plain, working the important values of folk lifestyles into the structure for a modern rethinking of a familiar concept. Modern design can often fly in the face of the traditional values of the past.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

In some cases it can aim to improve by ignoring the needs and concerns that we once had, but this architectural design in Hungary shows that – for home structures, at least – those same values are just as important now as they ever were. Having won the audience’s vote at the Media Architecture Awards, it’s clear this is a value that modern homeowners are considering.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

In the small village of Algyő in the Great Hungarian Plain, this project took the classic cross-section and layout of a traditional Hungarian farmstead and reconstructed it with a modern eye, replacing an old farm house that previously stood on the site. With the surrounding area suffering from depopulation due to global and national changes in the needs of agriculture, it was important that the project maintain the traditional values of such a building but with more contemporary needs.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

As a result the most iconic aspect of the project is the central courtyard of the building, which is enclosed by its three sides to create an intimate setting among the trees of the surrounding acacia forest. The various modernized elements take aspects that were no longer needed from a traditional farmstead, and repurposed their use.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

What once would have been stalls to store animals or maize are now garages, while a corner section removed part of the interior structure but maintained the roof to create a quaint, sheltered, outdoor seating area. With the project’s client sharing his time between the hectic life of Budapest and the countryside, it was important that the house not only facilitated the needs of any typical urbanite but also created a tranquil space that could be the perfect place for him and his family to escape from the stresses of city living.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

The outdoor area encapsulates that, with its own pool and a number of terraces of varying heights to make use of. There is a modern addition in the form of the library, a white cube protruding out from the otherwise entirely wooden structure.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

The secluded spot embeds itself within the forest, intentionally representing urban architectural design but also creating a quiet space to read and relax. The intention of the architects was to utilize a minimal floor-plan, making use of the traditional roof to create an interior space that was at once open, warm and welcoming.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

Though the building mimics the orientation of the original farmhouse exactly, its position within the wood was carefully selected to minimize the impact to the forestry and help habitation within nature to be as seamless as possible. The modern farmhouse also features windows on either side of the building to allow light to seep in from every angle.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

This has created a much brighter and more airy space that is very much in contrast to the darker rooms of such traditional houses, whose functions relied on protection from the elements rather than anything else. Similarly, this retelling of traditional values takes the core idea of individual units – where space had to be alloted for particular functions – and integrates it into the livable space.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

In addition to the separate wing for the garages, the building is smartly divided into living areas and bedrooms, effectively connected via the outer courtyard and sheltered club space. This modern farmstead is expressing the contemporary need for smart integration into an environment while extolling the traditional values that comes from the building’s folk inspiration. Source by András Varsányi, Péter Pozsár, Norbert Vas.

modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
  • Location: Algyő, Hungary
  • Architects: András Varsányi, Péter Pozsár, Norbert Vas
  • Building contractor: Tóth Tibor – carpenter
  • Client: Gergő Zoltai
  • Scale of project: 480 m2
  • Project cost: 500,000 EUR
  • Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Tamas Bujnovszky, Courtesy of zerocom. 
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky
modern Hungarian farmstead
Photo © Tamas Bujnovszky

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