ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
‘CET’ by ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)
, budapest, hungary
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)
all images courtesy of ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

 

 

 

rotterdam-based firm ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)
 has recently completed ‘CET’, a mixed-use development in the center of budapest, hungary. standing for ‘central european time’ and the hungarian word for whale, this structure on the banks of the danube takes on the curving form of a whale’s body. establishing a visual connection between the physically separated sides of buda and pest, the site returns riverside terraces to the city for the residents to frequent. the promenade will open to the neighboring budapest technical university and gellert hotel across the waterway.

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
entrance seen from plaza
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

 

 

 

the contemporary tube of steel and glass is positioned between 19th century warehouses. three of the six historic structures remained, weaving the addition to transition between the original and new buildings. at the plaza entry, the transparent enclosure forms a pointed projection which soars overhead and directs towards other attractions such as the palace of arts. inside, a central circulation spine is defined by an arching glass ceiling which spans from the masonry exterior walls and gable roofs creating an atrium filled with natural daylight. the opposing end features a bulbous elevation which pushes outward from the parallel warehouses into the open area.

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
(left) the tail of CET building seen from the entrance
image © romeodesign
(right) connection between the old and new part of the CET building
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
atrium
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
atrium
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
atrium
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
event space
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
front elevation
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
front of the CET building seen from the side, showing its nose
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
the existing buildings seen from the danube terraces
image © ONL (oosterhuis_lénárd)

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
CET seen from the entrance plaza looking across the danube river
image © romeodesign

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
CET seen from the entrance plaza looking across the danube river
image © romeodesign

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
site plan

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
floor plan / level 0

ONL oosterhuis_lénárd: CET, budapest
section

 

 

project info:

 

project’s name: CET (central european time) budapest
project’s address: közraktárak budapest hungary
architectural office: ONL [oosterhuis_lénárd]

project manager: bèla káli
design team: kas oosterhuis, ilona lénárd, gijs joosen, owen slootweg, bas wijnbeld, anna nagy, bujdosó attila, márku judit,
romvári péter, tom krzempek, rafael     seemann, paulina gurak, michael gorczynski, lidia badarnah, jan gasparik, petr vokal
year of design completion: 2012
status: completed

client: porto investment hungary kft., budapest
partners: MTM statika – lead structural engineering, SMG-SiSu – MEP engineering
function: retail (shopping-gallery) and conference centre

gross floor area: 27.000 m2
stories: 5 stories, 2 stories parking garage
parking garage: 7500 m2
load-bearing structure: mass-customized steel structure
finishes: steel glass facade paneling, aluminium facade paneling, wooden floor finishing