Building Complex of the Kabóca Puppet Theatre

The building complex, built based on the winning competition, was completed in 2023. The buildings individually are of lesser significance, as they are all simple, traditionally shaped, and small in scale. Two tasks were considered more important: on the one hand, revitalising the historical building, and integrating it into the urban context; on the other hand, complementing the streetscape by carefully adding new elements so that the view of the Castle Hill remains dominant while the new buildings define well-structured public spaces.

At the heart of the complex, the reconstructed façade of the former gymnasium is connected to the Castle Hill, emphasising their historical relationship. While the performance space and an auditorium occupy the restored gym, the main entrance and service areas are discreetly hidden in a new underground addition integrated into the retaining wall. Three additional buildings form a clear, structured spatial system, defining a series of open public spaces. A new visitor center and a café flank the entrance, while the children’s workshop is positioned deeper in the courtyard. The green area in front of the entrance functions as an outdoor installation space, and an elevated courtyard in front of the historical building provides a venue for open-air performances and children’s programs. The streetscape is shaped by the rhythm of the façades, gradually revealing the view of the buildings and the courtyards. On the opposite side, apartment buildings complete the emerging urban fabric.

The service buildings are more modest in scale than the old gymnasium and differ in their use of materials. While the Puppet Theatre features an ornate, plastered historical façade, the auxiliary buildings are clad in simple brickwork, thereby reversing the relationship the hierarchy of prominence while simultaneously clarifying the different construction periods. The alignment of eaves and opening heights further integrates the mass of the unusually shaped visitor center into the overall composition, creating a sense of cohesion across the site.