Login
Registered users
Andrássy Avenue, the host to the Haggenmacher Palace, is the remnant of a golden age. Its development not only coincided with Budapest growing into a modern metropolis, but it was a catalyst to the successes of this process. It brought the elegance of the Champs-Elysees to a dusty and noisy city. The neo-renaissance masonry building was originally designed and built by Henrik Schmahl in 1886. The events of the 20th century left it in a squalid state and with the building being under historic preservation, it proved to be too big of a burden for the local government, so it was sold in the beginning of the 2000s. During the reconstruction of the Haggenmacher Palace and the interiorization of its courtyard with a glass enclosure, a superior quality 3-star hotel was born.
The Oktogon neighborhood plays a vsignificant role in Budapest's urban fabric to this day, and the former Haggenmacher Palace located here is a beautiful, impulsive example of domestic neo-Renaissance architecture, which has been reborn as the Oktogon Hotel. The new hotel function suits the existing architectural articulation of the building quite well. The relatively dense organizational grid of the existing façade and the conversion of the attic into useful spaces made it possible for 121 hotel rooms to be developed within the historic palace. The reconstruction and renovation was guided by a holistic design mentality.
The courtyard’s interiorization makes the massing of the building more compact, which is preferential in terms of thermal loss. The lobby and the seating area of the adjacent breakfast bar were placed underneath the lightweight glass enclosure, which is either utilized for solar gains in the winter or covered with a mobile shading system to minimize excess heating in the summer. This central, symbolic atrium space has an exciting, dynamic quality, thus making the historic palace much better suited for functioning as a hotel.
The intention behind the interior refurbishing of this exceptional building was to lend a sophisticated contemporary quality to all new elements brought into the palace while simultaneously respecting the historically significant spaces they are placed within. The new hotel function suits the existing architectural articulation of the building quite well. The relatively dense organizational grid of the existing façade and the conversion of the attic into useful spaces made it possible for 121 hotel rooms to be developed within the historic palace. The reconstruction and renovation wasguided by a holistic design mentality. The courtyard’s interiorization makes the massing of the building more compact, which is preferential in terms of thermal loss. The lobby and the seating area of the adjacent breakfast bar were placed underneath the lightweight glass enclosure, which is either utilized for solar gains in the winter or covered with a mobile shading system to minimize excess heating in the summer. This central, symbolic atrium space has an exciting, dynamic quality, thus making the historic palace much better suited for functioning as a hotel. With the contemporization of the Haggenmacher Palace, its importance was once again cemented as a symbolic contributor to character of Andrássy Avenue.
"The design is unique and inspiring"
Founded in 1989, Archikon Architects in Budapest earned a reputation as one of Hungary’s leading architectural practices for innovative reconfigurations of buildings, respecting existing structures while creating something new. The majority of their portfolio is dedicated to communities. The office is led by Csaba Nagy and Karoly Polus, and they work on public, social, educational, residential, and mixed-use buildings, for both the private and public sectors.
As a result of the unique and innovative solutions, many of Archikon Architect’s projects have been awarded in Hungary. They have won the Budapest Architectural Award of Excellence and the Hungarian Media's Architectural Prize several times and the Pro Architecture Award, The Building of the Year Award as well. Archikon has also been recognized internationally. The Paris Court won the Architizer A+Award and the Vizafogó Kindergarten was included in the shortlist of the EUMiesaward 2022, and the Piranesi Award 2021.
