Architect: RADVÁNYI Katalin
The Science Centre of the University of Sopron, also known as the Ligneum Visitor Centre, is a complex touristic-scientific facility. Its main function is to introduce the forest, forestry, wildlife management and environment protection to the public in a special, up-to-date and creative way, promoting the university at the same time. The architecture of the building and its interaction with the natural environment has been awarded several prizes.
The building has been built in the campus of the Sopron University (at that time it was called the University of West Hungary), in a nature reserve, within the protected botanical garden of the university, where new buildings can be built only to replace a demolished one, and even then only within the same contour. The Science Centre occupies the location of an old open air swimming pool which had been out of function since the 1960s. The building has a basement, a ground floor and a gallery; double glued laminated timber structure and exterior glass walls. Visitors arrive at a hall and reception area on the ground floor, which is a temporary exhibition and presentation area as well. The information desk and a self-contained textbook vendor unit are also located here. The two storey high exhibition hall with a gallery opens from this area, offering several posibilities to install different interactive stations and to organize various events. The hall is connected to the basement and the gallery through a staircase and an elevator. There is a classroom, a toilet block, a mechanical service room and a storeroom in the basement, the latter has a glass wall with showcases on the entrance side.
Besides interactive exhibitions on the forest and timber products, promotion of scientific life and the university itself also takes place in the Ligneum, and a further aim is to introduce the surrounding protected botanical garden and research work in the university to visitors and students alike. The building has been awarded several prizes, including the Construction Award of Excellence 2013 in the public building category. In 2014 the Winkler Oszkár Memorial Tablet was awarded to the Ligneum Visitor Centre by the Sopron Town Beautification Association. This award indicates that its architectural image and location in the natural environment is exemplary among the buildings of Sopron.
Location: Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky utca 4. Built: 2011 Architect: RADVÁNYI Katalin Associate architect: VARGHA Júlia Interior architect: SCHINAGL Gábor Landscape architect: HAVASSY Gabriella Area: 1800 m2
