Architects: SKARDELLI György, LÁZÁR Ferenc
The relationship between the 1100 year old Archabbey and its reception building goes beyond the required practical functions, it is symbolic as well. This is the first building the visitors notice when they arrive. Accordingly, it has been a fundamental architectural idea to create an “object-like” block, where the building and the bridge appear as an organic unit, clearly indicating for the visitors that they will enter a different world here.
The Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey is one of the earliest buildings of Christianity in Hungary, which has been extended throughout the centuries and it is still functioning today. Owing to the growth of global tourism, this UNESCO World Heritage complex had attracted more and more visitors lately, whose reception was not properly organized. The new situation practically demanded the construction of a new building, to provide civilized premises for the new functions from the viewpoint of the visitors and the Archabbey alike. Earlier, the tourist buses and people coming by car arrived at the parking lot on Kosaras domb (Basket Hill), then the visitors walked up the hill to the main entrance of the Archabbey on a narrow path along the roadside, marked only by a painted line. The situation was not only inappropriate, but also very dangerous. The chaotic cluster of stalls at the main entrance of the Archabbey, accommodating the ticket office and souvenir vendors, was also unworthy of the place. A development concept was drawn up in 1993 to explore and solve the problems and a tourism management plan was prepared in 1998. After the approval of the latter, the design of a new reception building could be commissioned. The new building is located southeast to the parking area, along the main road, by the initial straight section of the road leading to the Archabbey. Visitors enter on the ground floor, where a ticket counter, a cash exchange machine, an information desk and a travel agency can be found. There are toilet blocks adequate for 100 visitors, a cloakroom and staff rooms in the basement. The exhibition hall and the souvenir and gift shop are located on the first floor. Visitors can learn about the internal life of the Archabbey by attending a slide show in the lecture hall on the second floor. At the end of this fixed route, the visitors cross the pedestrian bridge above the road, then walk up to the main entrance of the abbey on a special walkway which ascend the steep wooded slope of the hill. This timber floored walkway has been built above the sloping ground, supported by short pillars; it meanders among the trees, eliminating the danger of accidents, but also creating a special atmosphere for meditation and reflection in order to prepare the visitors for the experience of the abbey.
Both the exterior and the interior of the building are characterized by the use of durable materials: stone, metal, glass and concrete. The light coloured, matte finished limestone cladding on the exterior and the irregular fair face concrete surface in the interior suggest the feeling of timelessness, befitting the reception building of a 1100 year old establishment. Smooth metal appears as the frame and the dividing ribs of the glass structure on the facade and also as inlays penetrating the stone cladding. The solemnity of the interior is emphasized by the plain fair face concrete surface, but it is delicately relieved by the wood furniture and skirting. The four major materials are complemented by the hardwood coping on the parapet of the bridge and its natural coloured timber floor beams.
Location: Pannonhalma, Kosaras domb Built: 2004 Architects: SKARDELLI György, LÁZÁR Ferenc Interior architects: PLACHTOVICS Vilmos, MÁRKUS Gábor Landscape architect: HAVASSY Gabriella Area: 620 m2
