BORD ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO
The studio seeks to create inspiring spaces of timeless character; their work is regarded as intelligent
and creative architectural responses. Their internationally acclaimed projects include the
International School in Debrecen, the Aquaticum Spa, the old and new buildings of the Holdvölgy
winery in Mád and the Etyeki Kúria Winery. Their larger-scale projects include the Forest Offices, the
residential complex Allure Residence in Budapest, the Nagyerdei Stadium building and the
rehabilitation of the surrounding Nagyerdei Park. Recent projects include the Sauska winery in Rátka,
the Innovation Centre in Debrecen and the Mercure Tokaj Center.
Please describe your architectural office in a few sentences.
Established in 2006, the firm offers complex architectural design solutions and, in the spirit of
environmental and sustainable design, we also operate our own building services engineering and
landscape design studio. We are present in three cities: in addition to our headquarters in Budapest,
we also run offices in Debrecen and Zurich, employing nearly 40 engineers. The designer behind
creating the unique atmosphere of the works is the founder and lead designer of the office, architect
Péter Bordás. Strategic decisions are made by a smaller team of architects. Our staff work in three
large, well-defined groups: architects, building services engineers, and a back office team that is
responsible for communication and branding, as well as financial and administrative tasks.
What kind of architectural projects do you work on?
On buildings of different scales and functions. We usually receive assignments where either the
location or the function calls for solutions that are out of the ordinary. For example, the Innovation
Centre, one of our recently delivered favourite projects provides relevant answers to the challenges
mentioned above. We are proud of all the projects we have built, as all of them are sensible, work
well and are sustainable. We strive to put the buildings we design at the service of the community,
regardless of their location or function.
The central theme of this year's Design Week is ‘Spaces of Encounter’. What are your thoughts on
these multifunctional community spaces?
We try to anchor all of our projects in the relationship between buildings and public spaces, while
seeking to integrate our work in the surrounding streets and spaces, and giving it some kind of added
function. Public spaces are a typical example of multifunctional spaces. We aim for our buildings to
bring another usable, value-added element to public spaces.
How are our meeting spaces changing, and what tools can architecture offer to help that change?
There are different ways of thinking about meeting spaces. A possible approach is that in these
situations we keep trying to shed our rigid behavioural patterns. Everyone tries to put their own
personality first, but without having to leave their comfort zone. Perhaps the most important
function these spaces have to offer through their simplicity and practical solutions is to encourage
people just to be themselves while there.
In your opinion, what are the most important design aspects today?
We focus on the trinity of environmental, economic and social sustainability, which are highly
interdependent and mutually influencing factors, but we also need to find a delicate balance
between them, given that environmental sustainability is not always economic, in the same way that
economic efficiency does not always lead to social sustainability.
To what extent is this shaped by ongoing processes such as the pandemic or shortages in supply
chains?
Processes in society and in the economy are neither sudden changes, nor unexpected; instead, they
are the consequences of a situation that has been going on for a long time. Architecture is
characterised by a constant effort to respond to and reflect on such phenomena. However, real
breakthroughs only occur when the consequences of such changes emerge. In fact, these problems
act as a catalyst for architecture and design.
How is the office preparing for the Open Studios programme?
We intend to offer an insight into our current work, presenting the activities going on in the office
and the process of conceptualisation – all through our unfinished projects and together with our
partners who make maquettes and visual design for us – with a particular focus on projects that
respond to current societal issues.
