Millenáris Exhibition- and Program Centre
We are most proud of this project as our designers came up with the idea of rehabilitate the area of the GANZ factory into a cultural and exhibition center and had the opportunity to realise this project.
This project has won many awards:
- European Cultural Heritage Award, Europa Nostra Foundation (2002)
- Prix d'Excellence Award of FIABCI, Architectural Award for High Quality of Budapest Capital (2001)
- Architectural Award of Figyelő, Award Pro Architektura (2001)
Dreamers of Dreams - World-Famous Hungarians" Millenáris Exhibition and Event Center - The Renewal and Cultural Repurposing of the Former Ganz Factory (1999 – 2001)
Ábrahám Ganz founded his iron foundry in Buda, on what is now Ganz Street, in 1844. Due to its successful operation, the original factory soon outgrew the available space. After Ganz's death, one of his leading colleagues, András Mechwart, established the electrical department of the Ganz factory in 1878 and initiated developments in the Millenáris area. He organized an intellectual workshop with such excellent scientists as Károly Zipernowsky, Miksa Déri, and Ottó Titusz Bláthy. The site of the Ganz Electrical Works, as a location of this exemplary intellectual heritage, offered a unique opportunity for the realization of the planned "Dreamers of Dreams - World-Famous Hungarians" exhibition and related cultural developments. The primary intention of the exhibition was to show the large number of visitors the role Hungarian scientists, artists, creators, and athletes played in the development of Europe and the world. The planning of the development lasted from spring 1999 to summer 2001, but by early February 2001, the 32nd Millennium Film Festival was already held in the renewed "G" (Reception) building. CÉH Planning, Investment, and Development Plc. was present from the idea to the realization of the project, supporting the success of the investment with high-rise planning and project management. The creation of the Millenáris Exhibition and Event Center, the repurposing, and renewal of the former Ganz Factory brought numerous professional and media recognitions to its creators. In 2001, it received the Budapest Architectural Award of Excellence memorial medal and certificate; in 2002, the Europa Nostra award for monument restoration; in 2002, the special prize of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the 5th Hungarian Real Estate Development Award Competition; and in 2003, the special prize in the Public Facility category at the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence International Real Estate Development Award Competition. In addition to these prestigious recognitions, numerous articles and publications praised the completed developments, including Octogon, Atrium, Building Market, and Life and Science. During the implementation of the Millenáris Exhibition and Event Center, 28,000 m² of dilapidated, non-protected buildings were demolished, 48,000 m³ of earth was moved, 16,500 m² of concrete, 825 tons of reinforcing steel, 1,100 tons of steel structure, 75 km of pipelines, 250 km of electrical wiring, 7,200 m² of ceramic tiles, 3,200 m² of industrial parquet, 6,400 m² of stone carpet, and 7,000 m² of suspended ceiling were installed. On average, 500 people participated in the work daily, and in keeping with the spirit of the place, the names of the 1,863 contributors were preserved. The primary goal of the creation of the Millenáris Exhibition and Event Center was to shape the iconic location of the "Dreamers of Dreams - World-Famous Hungarians" exhibition. The material of the exhibition and the design of the location progressed in parallel: the close collaboration of the contributors, in a manner worthy of the spirit of the world-famous Ganz Factory that once operated on the site, was marked by prestigious international recognitions. The former "B", "C", and "D" buildings housed the highly popular exhibition, the "E" building became Buda's new theater and concert hall, and a multifunctional reception area was created in the former "G" TMK workshop
