Mill Workshop

My topic was an old ruined mill. The building complex provided the livelihood of the miller and his family for generations. Now it is empty. My aim was to find a new function,to bring back the life in this rural context. I have designed a family home and a small mill factory. Besides a little bakery,and also an accomodation where tourists can stay for a night.

I graduated at the Department of History of Architecture and Monuments. I was always interested in historical buildings and in historical context. So I searched for a topic, which is at least partly historical and has also social concern. Finding this mill is mostly accidental, but after weeks of searching I knew it was a very interesting project with plenty of opportunity. I have found the two owner of the buildings. It turned out that they have not got any idea what to do with this property. It is a big social problem in the hungarian countryside in general. In most cases the heirs do not know what to do with the old buildings. In my project I tried to find an answer for this problem. How can this building complex become sustainable. Firstly the main work was to find a new function, a new use for this complex. In addition my intention was to recall the atmosphere of the old times. In the past the mill provided the livelihood of the miller and his family. The mill was also the center of the cultural life in the village. Men have came here, have played cards and told each other gossips. In my design the new modern mill - working with special cereals - can give work for a family. The mill is again the part of the family life and provides the income. With the accomodation also others, children groups or tourists can be involved. So the life of the mill become partly public. Talking to local people it turned out, that a huge building like this mill could only be sustainable if somebody lives in it. In this rural area the properties, the houses need an owner who pays attention and always concerns. So it could work only with whole heart and soul.