Extension of the Kós Károly Vocational School

Érd is a rapidly developing town, facing the challenge of transforming from a rural settlement into a more urbanized entity with a defined centre. A key element in this transformation is the urban pedestrian axis, one end of which is anchored by the school complex. The new building ensemble reinforces the urban context. As a complement to the existing building, this axis—highlighted by a library situated on a bridge and an adjoining atrium—establishes a connection between spaces for learning, practical education, and community life. Radiating from the axis like the spokes of a Segner wheel are the classrooms, the underground gymnasium, workshops, and the cafeteria, located across both the existing and newly added structures.

The town faces visible challenges in keeping pace with development, which manifest not only in infrastructure but also in the daily lives of its growing population. There is a noticeable lack of a vital connection to the city they call home—a bond that forms an essential part of individual identity. Érd combines a rural settlement pattern with a highly heterogeneous population. Despite its proximity to the capital, many families live in segregated conditions, higher education participation is low, and young people predominantly engage only in vocational training. Aligning with municipal objectives to develop the city’s sole vocational school and create attractive opportunities for continued education, the project aimed to establish a contemporary European-quality learning environment. The new school building not only provides modern vocational education in a physical sense but also serves as a formative experience for future generations, fostering a stronger connection to their city and thereby reinforcing the social cohesion of the community.

The design proceeded along a logic of continuation, while simultaneously honoring the architecture of the 1970s. We sought to recognize the value of the existing, increasingly obsolete building, to identify opportunities that remain relevant today, and, by rethinking its formal composition and responding with contemporary material choices, to extend what was already there. The character of the existing building served as the starting point for the complex geometric massing and material articulation of the new architectural composition. On the façade, two distinct cladding types can be observed: the restrained alternation of materials clearly distinguishes the various geometric volumes of the complex. A new, dynamic metal louver cladding—which, in many areas, runs deliberately in front of the windows—introduces a sense of technical precision and material authenticity, representing our contemporary era. Its pronounced industrial character reflects one segment of the training programs conducted within the school: the crafts and professions focused on material processing.