MOME: A Revolutionary Campus Design by 3h Architects Ltd.

Blending Modernism and Bauhaus Principles in a Transformative Learning Environment

The inspiration behind MOME's design stems from the innovative, boundary-pushing spirit of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, the university's namesake, and the pioneering applied arts movement of the previous century, the Bauhaus. The design aims to honor Moholy-Nagy's oeuvre and significance while creating a contemporary artistic hub in Hungary.

The new campus stands out for its advanced economic and educational model. The expanded educational areas offer a studio-like teaching environment, revolutionizing 21st-century academic art practice. The building complex, comprising the 'Base', 'Master', and 'Up' Innovation Centre, introduces a range of unprecedented creative venues, fostering openness and providing institutional spaces that can steer academic creation towards new directions.

The realization of the design involved innovative architectural and construction techniques. Building B, BASE’s floating essence, is derived from a triple steel core reinforcement suspended from post-tensioned monolithic concrete beams, holding the edges of the floor slabs. UP’s notable technical element is the double-shell glass lamella system, which, besides its visual appeal, also provides shading and natural ventilation. During the modernization process, the MASTER’s inner walls were replaced with soundproof glass walls.

The design process was a collaborative effort involving lead architects Katalin Csillag and Zsolt Gunther, along with a dedicated team of architects and designers. The project spanned from October 2015 to June 2019, beginning with a competition and call for submissions, followed by the planning and construction phases.

The main challenge faced during the design process was mapping the terrain conditions of the location and finding the right placement for the main entrance of the new campus, while ensuring harmony with the existing modern villa-like buildings on the site. The design was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021, a testament to the team's ability to overcome these challenges and create a remarkable architectural masterpiece.

The MOME campus design is a testament to the transformative power of architecture in shaping learning environments. It is a beacon of modernism and Bauhaus principles, embodying a revolutionary approach to 21st-century academic art practice. With its unique design features and innovative construction techniques, it stands as a symbol of the future of architectural design in educational institutions.