House of Music, Budapest, Hungary

© Melinda Nagy, Mrton, fotoember, Miroslav Posavec (stock.adobe.com)

House of Hungarian Music, located in the middle of Budapest's City Park, is more than just a museum; it's a vision that spans generations, cultures, environments, and musical science. The point is not to show off but to invite, to move beyond passive observation and into active engagement. The House of Hungarian Music embodies the ideal of a museum of the modern era—totally at one with its surroundings.

Beautiful and ecologically sound, it harmonizes with the park's natural setting and its spirit. In the shade of the treetops, the project takes form organically. The perforations allow natural light to pass through, and the gently levitating circular volume faces all directions, making the bottom level accessible to visitors from all directions.

Divided into three levels, the museum encourages interaction and engagement: an underground exhibition hall, a ground-level performance space, and a rooftop dedicated to educational programs.

The façade, crafted entirely of transparent glass, removes barriers between the interior and exterior, creating a harmonious relationship with the environment. The innovative glass design allows for maximum natural light while improving energy efficiency, significantly reducing the building’s cooling needs.

The roof, a defining feature of the structure, takes inspiration from sound waves, its organic curves supported by slender columns that resemble tree trunks.

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