Debrecen4U
June 9, 2026
Exhibition Building Planned for Debrecen Wins Two Awards at International Architecture Competition
The exhibition building planned for Debrecen’s Great Forest by the Bjarke Ingels Group and Vikár és Lukács Építész Stúdió for the Hungarian Natural History Museum achieved outstanding success in the international finals of the Architizer A+Awards. The design received first prize from the professional jury in the category of unbuilt landscape architecture projects, while also winning the Popular Choice Award in the category of unbuilt institutional buildings, according to information published on the awards website.
The international jury recognised the project for its balance between nature and the built environment. According to an earlier description by the designers, a significant portion of the 23,000-square-metre complex planned for the site of the former stadium in the Great Forest will function as an inner garden, while its green roof, planted with native vegetation, will naturally extend the forest canopy.
The building’s form and massing integrate organically into the surrounding environment, creating minimal visual impact while encouraging the return of local flora and fauna. The entrance hall and garden will serve as an open meeting place accessible free of charge even outside opening hours, allowing the exhibition building to become a new type of community space.
The design competition for the building was launched internationally by the Debrecen Infrastructure Development Ltd. and was won by Denmark’s Bjarke Ingels Group and Hungary’s Vikár és Lukács Építész Stúdió. Their vision combines exhibition space, ecological symbolism and community functions, presenting the relationship between nature and humanity in a new dimension.
Ferenc Kun, Managing Director of Debrecen Infrastructure Development Ltd., told the Hungarian News Agency (MTI): “The fact that both the architectural profession and future visitors unanimously selected this building from among hundreds of entries submitted from 80 countries around the world demonstrates that we have successfully delivered a carefully prepared project of which we can justifiably be proud and which is ready for implementation. According to current plans, the building’s first exhibition will be realised under the stewardship of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Preparatory work on the project is being carried out in close cooperation with the institution, which would be the first to occupy the exhibition spaces once the building has been completed.”
As he pointed out, it is now common international museum practice for exhibitions to be staged across multiple locations, even in different regions, while collection management and research activities do not necessarily take place at the same sites. A modern, experience-oriented and innovative exhibition venue can therefore independently host high-quality scientific and cultural programmes while operating as part of a wider professional network. “The concept of the new building provides an opportunity to realise a design—and ultimately a building—that may in future be suitable not only for natural history exhibitions but also for presenting transport, innovation and broader educational content, thereby strengthening the cultural diversity and educational role of eastern Hungary,” Ferenc Kun emphasised.
The international design competition for the exhibition building in the Great Forest was launched after the previous government decided to relocate the Hungarian Natural History Museum to Debrecen. However, during his ministerial hearing, Zoltán Tarr, Minister for Social Relations and Culture in the Tisza Government, stated that all professionally unjustified museum relocations would be halted with immediate effect.
Speaking to Index in May, Zsolt Bernert, Director General of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, confirmed that the institution would not be relocating to Debrecen after all. At the same time, he added that a networked model could represent a positive direction for future development, under which the museum would operate exhibition venues in both Debrecen and Veszprém.
The Architizer A+Awards, which attracts entries from more than 80 countries, aims to recognise the world’s most outstanding architectural projects. In the 14th edition of the competition, the international jury of more than 250 professionals evaluated outstanding architectural works and designs across more than 120 categories, ranging from cultural institutions and public buildings to urban development concepts and sustainable, innovative architectural solutions.
The award recognises projects that, in addition to architectural quality and aesthetic value, make a meaningful social, environmental and professional contribution to communities and to the future built environment.
The Architizer A+Awards Popular Choice Winner is selected on the basis of thousands of votes cast by members of the international public.
Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Bjarke Ingels Group & Vikár és Lukács Építész Stúdió
