English

A major investment is about to begin in the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts (in Hungarian: Szépművészeti Múzeum), or more precisely, under and in front of the Museum. The building that hosts one of the most important art collections of Central-Europe will be enlarged with two underground levels. The extension will be accompanied by the restructuring of the space in front of the Museum. Some of the plans were published earlier, but by now, the final plans for the underground-entrance are ready, which were made by Hungarian architects Tamás Karácsony and his team.

No major changes are to be expected on the surface. Practically there will be only one new, characteristic building on the corner of the Museum, the entrance, the plans of which were recently completed. The sculpture-like structure contains an elevator and staircases. Its composition does not mimic Neo-Classicism, merely follows its logic – emphasises Tamás Karácsony.

While the gate structure aims to attract the the tourists arriving to Heroes' Square, the visitors of the Museum can access the building through an entrance cut into the main staircase of the Museum. As contrary to the original upward stairs, the new visitor entrance of the facility leads downwards. The solution was much debated, but understanding the whole concept of the reconstruction, it is agreeable. The present entrance will retain its function: it will serve as an entry during exclusive events and such occasions as the Night of Museums. The wide staircase continutes to function as a meeting and resting point in the future, similarly as the stairs of the Hungarian National Museum. The staircase proceeds underground, in an artful manner. Arriving under the surface, one will find exhibition halls and related establishments, as well as a museum shop and – a much awaited restaurant.

The elaborate and uniform concept of underground extensions is a contemporary version of the system created by Albert Schikedanz, architect of the main building which opended its gates to the public in 1906. In this aspect, the architects were in an advantageous situation: there are many common features in the apporache of Neo-Classicism and Minimalism. The stair-system of the entrance is a good example of this transformation. In effect, it is an underground extension of the Museum's Porticus. The columns however, no longer have the classical fluted form, but are simplified, contemporary versions.

The architects emphasized that during the planning of the underground spaces, it has always been considered that the visitors can locate themselves easily. The glass light-signs in the hall, and the two large glass ceilings (above the ticket counter and the restaurant) also intend to help navigation, and allow visual contact with the surface, but at the same time they serve as the sources of plenty of light. The other way around: they reveal the spaces under the surface. The strictly organized garden plans also perfectly complement the Neo-Classicist architectural shapes.

The materials used also aim to promote the dialog between old and new: the stone tiles and white plastered walls respond to Neo-Classicist arhitecture, but do not intend to copy it.

Due to the extensions, the currently unaccessible spaces of the original building now functioning as storages, will be opened, giving larger space to the permanent exhibition. The new exhibition halls were designed according to contemporary requirements. They are fully convertible and equipped with state of the art mechanical systems.

During the design process, architects considered the idea of connecting other underground facilities with the building. The construction of an underground parking lot is a long-time issue, but also the establishment of a sub-surface connection with Art Hall (on the opposite side of Heroes' Square) is an option. Fuctions are integrated as "drawers" into the two-storey exhibition hall, which makes the future connection of the two buildings easier to achieve.

According to the plans, the reconstructions will begin this year, therefore, if everything goes well, in 2011 we can already be the visitors of the extended Museum of Fine Arts.

Translation by Zsófia Pataky