John Calvin Protestant Home for the Elderly

Budapest, 2004

Senior architectural designer: Ernő Kálmán DLA, Ybl Prize laureate architect – Reálterv Építésziroda Kft.
Contributors to architectural design: Beáta Albrecht, Róbert Novák, Csaba Balogh, Tamás Berecz, Gabriella Schmölcz
Interior design: György Major, DLA – Teamajor Kft.
Contributors to interior design: Imre Bődi, Tamás Hoffman
Pro Architectura Award

“A welfare facility of the church on a strong slope with an unparalleled view, which emphasizes the Protestant Church’s dedication to renewal.”

In this house, Protestant restraint meets with qualities that interact with, and structure, the building’s environment. The design seeks to resolve this tension by complying with the character of the neighbourhood’s development, and by referencing such segments of its architectural tradition that act in this vein. Additionally, we wanted to highlight and emphasize the religious functions, which may take up only a fraction of the floor area, but are decisive with regard to the spirit of the complex. As a result, it is marked by a denser, stricter appearance on the outside, and an open, Mediterranean atmosphere on the inside.
With the naturalism of a low-key architecture we wanted to create a bridge between individuals and families, older and younger people, as it was indeed spelt out in the brief: “above all, the building is a home to old-age pensioners who can look after themselves but want to live in a community.”

Photography: Tamás Bujnovszky