Debrecen4U
December 1, 2025
An experience-based, family-friendly and forward-looking Transport Museum is being built in Debrecen
The results of the architectural design competition that the Ministry of Construction and Transport announced for the Hungarian Transport Museum building in Debrecen have been announced.
As is known, last May, János Lázár made a big announcement: the Minister of Construction and Transport revealed in the Debrecen Television program Public Affairs Extra that they plan to build the new Transport Museum in the “cívis” city, near the BMW plant. The ministry then successfully conducted an ideas competition, to which 18 entries were submitted. Of these, the jury found the design of the architectural firm Archiko Kft. to be the best, and in addition, eight more were awarded. After analyzing these, this summer the ministry announced the architectural design competition for the project aimed at building the Hungarian Transport Museum in Debrecen, the results of which have now been announced. The new application brought a surprise in that it presents a completely different building compared to the sailboat-shaped building that appeared in the winning design of the idea competition.
The grand prize of HUF 25 million was won by DAW Építész Stúdió Kft. with its entry. The second prize of HUF 20 million was awarded to the joint entry of Archiko Kft. and GAV-ART STÚDIÓ Kft. and T1 STUDIO Kft., the third-best entry was submitted jointly by FINTA Stúdió Kft. and Zaha Hadid Architects, which received HUF 15 million. The ministry will also purchase the entries of three other companies (BORD Építész Stúdió Kft., Tecton Kft., and Napur Architect Kft.) based on the recommendation of the judging committee.
The ministry is expecting architectural proposals for a building or building complex that is forward-looking and provides an inspiring backdrop for innovation and that is capable of serving the required functions and meeting the evaluation criteria at the highest possible level. National Chief Architect, State Secretary for Architecture, and chairman of the jury, Regő Lánszki, said at the award ceremony that the birth of the new Transport Museum indicates an approach that finally sees the country as a whole—not as an opposition between center and countryside, but as a network of interconnected cities.
“The awarded concept promises a building that is both modern and restrained, characteristic but not ostentatious. With its airy appearance, it cleverly conveys its function. It is a new symbol that blends into the landscape yet remains recognizable from afar, naturally connecting tradition and innovation. This building will not only be a museum but also the first visible sign of a new kind of national thinking,” emphasized Regő Lánszki.
Mayor László Papp highlighted that today’s award ceremony marks a new direction for Debrecen’s future and represents the next milestone in a major urban development era. “Such a Transport Museum is a great opportunity but also a great responsibility. We can safely say to everyone that it will be located in the best possible place, in the center of the Carpathian Basin, and we will try to take care of this project like a good farmer,” the city manager was heard saying about the project.
Domonkos Schneller, Director General of the Hungarian Museum of Science and Transport, spoke about the continuous development and expansion of their collection. “Once all this is in place, all that remains is to create a building that is worthy and suitable for hosting such a comprehensive exhibition,” Domonkos Schneller explained. The Director General said that the design competition is a significant step forward compared to the idea competition, which was about the clash of ideas, directions, and visions. Meanwhile, the design competition already produces solutions that are closer to feasibility in terms of form, function, and museum expertise and can form the basis of a complex design.
They aim to build an experience-based, guest-friendly museum, which is also a multigenerational community space, as well as a cultural space that is suitable for hosting events and conferences dealing with innovation and technology, presenting new developments, and presenting the future in addition to the past. In their competition entry, DAW Építész Stúdió Kft. divided the area into three functional zones. Two external and one internal world—including the building and its internal atrium. The western side of the site is the arrival and parking area. That area is directly connected to the BMW bypass; here, in addition to the car parking, a bus bay is being created where both shuttle and long-distance buses can stop. The car parking lot and the bus bay are connected to a paved surface that leads directly to the inner oasis. “Once all this is in place, all that remains is to create a building that is worthy and suitable for hosting such a comprehensive exhibition,” as Schneller Domonkos put it.
The director general said that the design competition is a significant step forward compared to the idea competition, which was about the clash of ideas, directions, and visions, while the design competition already produces solutions that are closer to feasibility in terms of form, function, and museum professionalism and can form the basis of a complex design. They aim to build an experience-based, guest-friendly museum, which is also a multigenerational community space, as well as a cultural space that is suitable for hosting events and conferences dealing with innovation and technology, presenting new developments, and presenting the future in addition to the past.
In its entry, DAW Építész Stúdió Kft. divided the area into three functional zones. Two external and one internal world—including the building and its inner atrium. The western side of the site is the arrival and parking area. The area is directly connected to the BMW bypass, where, in addition to car parking, a bus bay is being created where both shuttle and long-distance buses can stop. The car parking lot and the bus bay are connected to a paved surface that leads directly to the inner oasis.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
