Budapest Music Center

The Budapest Music Center arose from the renovation of a residential building erected in 1890, embedded within the historic urban fabric of Ferencváros. The renewed building now houses an institution that provides space for all forms of music, paying homage to the past through the tools of contemporary architecture. The goal of the conversion and extension was to create a multifunctional cultural centre that serves musicians, students and audiences alike.

The architectural concept, developed by ART1st Design Studio, preserved the structural integrity and proportions of the original building while shaping a modern and inspiring environment. During reconstruction, all non-load-bearing structures were removed and replaced with new floor and roof constructions, enabling the creation of an entirely new usable storey within the former attic. The completed building, equipped with state-of-the-art technical systems, accommodates a music library, studios, offices, guest rooms, as well as a jazz club and concert hall open to the public.

The ground floor and basement level are used for community functions. The jazz club behind the Mátyás Street façade also operates as a café and restaurant during the day, while the 250-square metre concert hall with an interior ceiling height of 9 metres, created by covering the inner courtyard, is a special space from an acoustic point of view. The original atmosphere of the courtyard is preserved by a circular glass strip that allows natural light to enter, while the interior acoustic cladding and irregular wall surfaces ensure ideal acoustics.

The façade of the building strikes a balance between references to its historic surroundings and the dynamism of contemporary musical culture. Above the main cornice, a fragmented, anthracite-toned metal cladding appears as a visual interpretation of musical rhythms. This contemporary element subtly “cuts through” the plane of the original façade, signalling both the functional and intellectual renewal of the building. During the redesign of the street frontage, the former windows were transformed into full-height portals, strengthening the connection between the street and the interior spaces.

The organisation of the interior space logically separates the public, creative and administrative functions. The ground floor lobby and cloakroom are connected to the concert hall and jazz club, while the rear wing has a separate entrance to the arts block, which houses the dressing rooms, studio and technical rooms. The upper floors house offices, a music library and guest rooms, while the attic has been converted into a covered event space and roof terrace.

The integration of state-of-the-art mechanical, acoustic and lighting systems posed a particular technical challenge, as the infrastructure had to meet 21st-century requirements while preserving the building’s historical structural elements. The new technologies blend invisibly into the architecture of the building, thus maintaining a perfect balance between aesthetic and functional considerations.

The complexity of the project – coordinating diverse functions and ensuring precise technical execution – demanded exceptionally high-level professional collaboration. Market Építő Zrt., acting as general contractor, oversaw the process to ensure architectural vision, acoustic requirements and heritage values were realised in harmonious unity.

Since its opening in 2013, the Budapest Music Center has become one of the foremost venues in Hungarian and international musical life – a place where tradition and innovation meet, embodied in a building that proudly represents the quality of contemporary Hungarian architecture and the excellence of its construction.