Work starts on Sou Fujimoto's House of Hungarian Music in Budapest
by Tom Anstey | 07 Sep 2018
The House of Hungarian Music by Sou Fujimoto – the architect behind such projects such as The Serpentine Gallery and the Musashino Art University Museum – is set to undergo construction on the shore of Városliget Lake in Budapest’s City Park.
The building, part of an expansive national cultural initiative, will utilise transparent glass walls and a mushroom-shaped, perforated roof, to mimic the free-flowing, airy, and barrier-shattering attributes of music.
Fujimoto was awarded the contract in 2014 after a competition involving international such architectural firms as AVA, Kengo Kuma, and Ziya Imren.
On completion, the development will serve both as an arts venue and exhibition hall, showcasing Hungary’s long history of musical prowess. An underground space spanning 2,000sq m (21,500sq ft) will also be home to various venues for permanent and temporary exhibitions, while the first floor will house a library of world popular music.
The £213m (US$275.6m, €236.5m) five-building museum project is being spearheaded by the The Museum of Fine Arts Budapest and the Városliget Zrt.
The development will see old buildings onsite demolished and replaced with new structures. Called 'Liget' the Hungarian government describes the plans as an "an urban public park for relaxation, a green oasis, and a home to institutions of culture, entertainment and recreation".
Work started at the end of last year on the Napur-designed Museum of Ethnography.
Other projects include the New National Gallery by SANAA and the Museum of Hungarian Architecture by KÖZTI Architects & Engineers. A large swathe of parkland will also be regenerated, with thousands of trees planted.
The overall development is expected to be completed in 2020 and has been projected to draw an extra 300,000 tourists to Budapest every year.
House of Hungarian Music Sou Fujimoto Hungary The Museum of Fine Arts Budapest Városliget Zrt Napur
On completion, the development will serve both as an arts venue and exhibition hall, showcasing Hungary’s long history of musical prowess Credit: Sou Fujimoto
Parts of the indoor area will serve as music venues Credit: Sou Fujimoto
The overall development is expected to be completed in 2020 Credit: Sou Fujimoto
The museum will also be home to artworks and exhibitions Credit: Sou Fujimoto
Credit: Sou Fujimoto
Credit: Sou Fujimoto
30 Dec 2017
Work begins on Hungary's curving, golden Museum of Ethnography
21 Apr 2015
Snøhetta and SANAA are head to head in final competition for Budapest's Ludwig Museum job
14 Jan 2015
Budapest finalises plans for US$277m cultural museum quarter
12 Nov 2014
Competition launched for new Budapest National Gallery and Ludwig Museum
The House of Hungarian Music by Sou Fujimoto – the architect behind such projects such as The Serpentine Gallery and the Musashino Art University Museum – is set to undergo construction on the shore of Városliget Lake in Budapest’s City Park. The building, part of an expansive national cultural initiative, will utilise transparent glass walls and a mushroom-shaped, perforated roof, to mimic the free-flowing, airy, and barrier-shattering attributes of music.
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