Normafa Ski House

2020-2021

Reconstruction and extension of Normafa Ski House, Budapest XII. Eötvös street, restricted competition, 1st prize


Architects: András Bartha, Levente Szabó
Co-designers: Katalin Alkér, Szilvia Tóth
Statics: Dr. Dezső Hegyi, Dr. Tamás Ther
Landscape architecture: Réka Bancsy, Zsuzsanna Szalay-Szakály
Model: Mátyás Weisz, Vencel Kustra
Visualization: Bence Falussy


The Normafa Ski House at 59 Eötvös út XII Budapest was built in 1930-1931. We aimed to conceptualize the reconstruction of the locally listed ski lodge in a critical way: the main facade and the mass are kept intact, and the planned bistro function is arranged in the building, based at the original interior spacial structure. The service spaces are located at the ends of the side wings (with their boundaries in almost the same position as in the original plan), while the public areas are located in the central, prominent wing and in the adjacent side spaces. Our plan involves the restoration of the curved terrace into a covered-open space and the re-opening of the public spaces (as shown in the original plan), which will allow for an intensive but flexible use of the space within the building. Taking the mass and dimensions of the central wing as a starting point, the new forest pavilion was designed as a series of axial spaces, which linked to the public spaces of the Ski House, further expands the range of possible uses. The aim was to create a light, transparent but weather-protected part of the building that could be separated and used for festive occasions. With its use of wood shingles, its exposed timber girder truss structure, its floating form and its object-like shaping, it does not compete with the imposing mass of the Ski House, but rather draws on the more relaxed atmosphere of the forest character. Its retractable glass walls make the building almost completely transparent and permeable in summer. It is hoped that the space between the two buildings will further enrich the possibilities for outdoor use.