SZABADSÁG BISTRO, BUDAPEST

In the city centre of Pest, near the Bank District, and in the neighbourhood of significant public buildings, this Grand Café was established by merging several business premises. Its design recalls its turn of the 20th century predecessors but has a deliberately contemporary and modern form. Under the customer area, the basement hosts all the serving functions: the changing rooms for the staff and the stockrooms as well the large-size kitchen and the confectionery workshop, which serve the ground floor via two dumbwaiters. The glass portals on the ground floor of the café can be opened onto the street, which guests can use as a terrace in the summer. The main entrance is in the middle of the curved internal space, on the corner of the building, with two galleries at both ends of this space of a great floor-to-ceiling height, recalling the arrangement in the age of the Monarchy. The counter is placed opposite to the main entrance, so its curved line is capable of serving both parts of the space. The plumbing system serving the guests is placed inside, in the rear section. The interior is designed by Márton Lengyel and created with a refined taste, resulting in an elegant, cosy, contemporary, yet lasting and exclusive environment. The atmosphere of the place was given as Szabadság Café used to be here. Borrowing its name, the new establishment continues its tradition too. The ventilation of the entire space is ensured centrally by a machine located in the basement, whereas the large-scale air channels lead hidden through the back of the lift shaft up above the ridge of the roof. The Grand Café, with its excellent kitchen and unobtrusively stylish serving, recalls the value system and the atmosphere of the ancient bourgeoisie for its 21st century guests. Opening the old-new café filled a large gap in the northern part of Pest’s city centre and revived the tradition of cafés. The little square next to Batthyány’s sanctuary lamp received a worthy catering establishment, reawakening Endre Ady’s spirit.

Szabadság Bistro, Budapest 
Interior designer: MÁRTON LENGYEL
client: TAZSIN Ltd.
year of the design: 2004 
volume: 750 m²