Located in Budapest, Hungary the Prater Street 30-32 by PLANT - Atelier Peter Kis is a fine example of public housing and integration with its surrounding context while attaining regulatory demands from the municipality.  It gives the project and its users a successful solution and pleasant environment to occupy and dwell in.  It is evident that the form of the building occurs from close attention to its surrounding blocks. Volumes extrude to occupy the available lot without obstructing the public space and maintaining a scale relationship to its adjacent buildings. In this case, spatial constraints became the opportunity to work closer with what was given.  The forms were added to the site rather than clearing out a block or two of the city to make space for something not quite harmonious.

The buildings embrace an inner garden that allows for natural sunlight into the space. Public spaces are connected via extrusions of the balconies or at times walkways, not only connecting the two buildings but also providing great views of the city.  The cantilever elements add a rich texture, a functional layer and a luxury of vistas that many social housing projects or any other mass residential projects would not give you.  A truly exquisite project that demonstrates that efficiency, budget constraints and site limitations do give you a great platform to innovate and provide the end user with a great place to occupy and enjoy.

Project name: Práter street
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Design studio: PLANT – Atelier Peter Kis
Project team members: Péter Kis, Csaba Valkai, Ivett Tarr, János Sarusi Kis, Tamás Ükös, Gábor Balázsa, Gábor Divinyi, Barbora Tuckova
Client: Budapest Józsefváros Municipality
Plot area: 1218 m2
Total square meter of flats: 2065 m2
Project start date: 2005
Completion of work: December 2007

photo © Sándor Szabó