The KÖZTI team participated in a volunteer day as part of the ROM Vándor social responsibility program of Market Építő Zrt. This time, in addition to preparing the conservation design, we also participated in the realization of the renovation of the Somoly church ruin located at the boundary of Regöly village.
The program, organized in the heart of the picturesque Tolnai Hills, aimed to contribute to the preservation and beautification of this unique historical monument through the power of community cooperation. KÖZTI architects actively participated in the improvement of the area surrounding the church ruin, planting flowers and shrubs, and they also had the opportunity to learn about local traditions.
The Somoly church ruin in Tolna County is one of those hidden places in the country that mass tourism havs avoided up to now. It was first mentioned in a written source in 1389. The date of its construction and destruction can only be estimated. The bricks and binding material of the monument are basically in good condition, while erosion can be observed on the top of the wall, inside the tower and at the plinth. In addition to the conservation of the surviving walls, similarly to the other ruin sites, a contemporary addition is being made here too: a 13.5-meter-high corten steel cross is placed on the eastern wall of the tower, which also serves as a lightning rod, and the destroyed walls of the altar and church are displayed by strips planted with flowers. Similar to the previous sites of the Market Építő Zrt. ROM Vándor program, the aim in case of the Somoly ruin is to guarantee the long-term survival and cultural embeddedness of the monument.
KÖZTI is proud to actively participate not only in shaping the built environment, but also in its protection.
