This multi-functional visitor center in Hungary by Istvan Murka is closely tied to local materials and traditional construction solutions. The design process involved developing a unique manufacturing process whereby the high-tech material of Ivanka is applied by hand into a specialized cast, resulting in a unique panel measuring more than 3 meters long. This new surface is naturally raw, aggregate-revealing, shows ample aggregates, and is reminiscent of soil layers.
The facade of the Opusztaszer Visitor Center was covered with 360 cm wide 80 cm high elements in five rows. The panels were mounted onto the in-situ concrete loadbearing structure by precast stainless-steel anchors, that were doweled into the load bearing walls. Panels were hung from the top, and on the bottom stainless steel threaded rods ensured adequate spacing. Thermal insulation was added before each element was installed. The thickness of the panels was 3 cm overall, however the items had to be thickened up locally where the anchors were placed. This way the weight of the panels remained manageable, yet adequate concrete coverage was provided for the anchorage.
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OPUSTERRA concrete panel was created with a very specific design intent – to create a panel that resembles being pulled out from the ground in one, swift move, evoking earthiness, natural aesthetics, and ancient materiality.
The newest development aimed was to create a unique, qualitative architecture with a new and multifunctional visitor center. The architectural work was lead by István Murka, who reflects to the local traditions in this work.
This bipolar building is closely tied to the materials using and the traditional construction solutions of this area. The process involved developing a unique manufacturing process, where the high-tech material of IVANKA is applied by hand into a specialized cast, and the result is a panel that is never the same as any other. The panels are more than 3 meters long. The resulting surface of the large format is naturally raw, aggregate-revealing, shows ample aggregates, and is reminiscent of the layers of the soil as it emerges from the deep. During this technical innovative project IVANKA was working with István Murka from Dóm Architecture Studio and the photos taken by Tibor Zsitva.
On the building area that features solid block walling, an „earth-concrete” facade panel was utilized, which reflects on the unique heritage of building with clay and compacted earth, and utilizing manual labour in the architectural traditions of the South-Alföld region.
IVANKA was called upon to collaborate on the development of the honed surface of the concrete facade panels. The thin concrete slabs feature designed spotting and strands of colour, but the originally material-coloured, raw-surface panel was eventually painted by the contractor.
Concrete’s robustness is accompanied with an active force that expresses the material’s contradictory states of fluidity and cast solidity. Concrete construction projects are antistatic, can be defined as a shot of fluid in motion. Concrete’s plastic characteristics- from fluid to solid, allowing the production of complex forms- combined with its mass and resilience make ’free’ transformations possible while efficiently resolving structural and physical demands.
