Tender for the ruined church in Zsámbéki

The task of the competition was to renew the ruins of the Old Church and the former monastery, along with their surroundings, which are among the most significant monuments under Hungarian heritage protection. Our goal was to restore the ruins to reflect their historical state and significance, while complementing their original function with new uses that preserve their form and meaning—an identity that has shaped Hungarian society for the past 150 years.

We approached the ruins with a restoration mindset, ensuring the preservation of existing structures for the long term, while maintaining the integrity of their historic silhouette. The design carefully integrates new elements so as not to compromise the visibility of the ruins. Accordingly, the visitor centre and monastery building are recessed into the existing platform’s mass.

The architectural form creates a harmonious unity with the ruin church, the monastery, and the newly landscaped environment. The interior design guides visitors from intimate, private spaces to more communal areas, with spatial organization respecting the silhouette of the ruin church. An internal recessed atrium leads visitors upward towards the ruins complex.

The building features a walkable roof, forming an integral part of the visitor circulation route that connects the ruins and the visitor centre. Sacral and religious functions are thoughtfully continued in time, with the design preserving the dignity and spatial memory of the original sacred areas.

The planned development aims to keep the environment of the ruin complex freely accessible and embraced by both the local community and visitors. This intervention is intended to significantly strengthen the local community and reinforce the identity of Zsámbék.