BUDALIGET

This family residence designed by Equinox sits on the outskirts of a protected forest area in the north-west of Budapest. The shape of the building was influenced by the site borders – the street towards the north-west and the forest towards the south-east. To make the most of the views, privacy, and sunlight, the house was designed in a T-shape, with the longer part perpendicular to the street and the shorter section facing the forest. The part facing the forest extends over a hidden terrace, creating a floating effect.

The design is based on the traditional Hungarian long house style, with a porch and pitched roof. However, it also features a modern, transparent cube that connects the indoors with the outdoors, promoting a strong connection to nature for the residents' well-being. Inside the cube, you'll find the living, dining, and kitchen area, while the five bedrooms are located along the southern side of the long house. The building's layout provides various outdoor spaces on different levels for year-round use.

Due to the soft ground conditions, the ground floor is made of silicate concrete blocks and concrete slabs. On top of this, a wooden CLT structure sits, blending in with the local forest.

The house is designed with energy efficiency in mind, making the most of the forest for natural cooling and using smart facade design for natural ventilation. The southern side is shaded by wooden frames, blocking the strong summer sun but allowing plenty of daylight and passive heating in winter. To meet heating and hot water needs, there's an air-to-water heat pump powered by on-site solar panels.