Imre Makovecz
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Imre Makovecz (November 20, 1935 – September 27, 2011), was a Hungarian architect active in Europe from the late 1950s onward.
Makovecz was born and died in Budapest. He attended the Technical University of Budapest. He was founder and "eternal and executive president" of the Hungarian Academy of Arts.
Makovecz was one of the most prominent proponents of organic architecture. As such, his buildings attempt to work with the natural surroundings rather than triumph over them. Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolf Steiner are both strong influences, as is traditional Hungarian art.
His work began as a critique of communist ideology and the brutal uniformity of system building but, after the fall of the Communist regime in 1989, it became a comment on the nature of globalisation and corporate culture. In its attempts to refer to and build on Hungarian national archetypes Makovecz was continuing the work and ideas of the architects of Hungarian Art Nouveau and National Romanticism. The first English language monograph on his work, Imre Makovecz: The Wings of the Soul, by Edwin Heathcote, was published in 1997.
Makovecz's key works
- Sárospatak Cultural Center (completed in 1982)
- Visegrád Sports Hall (1985)
- Town Hall and Commercial Center of Dunajská Streda
- Kakasd Community Center (1996)
- His group designed the buildings of the Piliscsaba campus of Pázmány Péter Catholic University.
- He also designed the Hungarian pavilion at the Seville Expo '92 in Seville, Spain.
Other important works
- Berhida, Restaurant (1964);
- Venice, Shark Restaurant (1965);
- Szekszárd, Fisherman's Inn (1965);
- Balatonszepezd, Cottages (1965);
- Tatabánya, Inn (1966);
- Gyulavár, Restaurant (1969);
- Sárospatak, Cultural Centre (1972);
- Szentendre, Restaurant (1973);
- Farkasrét, Funeral Chapel (1975);
- Visegrád, Tourist Lodges (1977);
- Visegrád, Mogyoró Hill, Camping Complex and Recreation Centre (1978);
- Dobogókő, Ski-lift House (1979);
- Visegrád, Farm and Restaurant (1980);
- Jászapáti Cultural Centre (1983);
- Bak, Community Centre (1985);
- Szigetvár, Cultural Centre (1985);
- Siófok, Church (1986);
- Paks, Holy Spirit Church (1987);
- Sárospatak, Secondary School (1988);
- Überlingen, Ecological Centre (1989);
- Lendava, Theatre and Hungarian Community Center (1991–2004);
- Eger, Swimming Pool (1993);
- Piliscsaba, Stephaneum (1995);
- Százhalombatta, Church (1995);
- Makó, OnionHouse Theatre (1995);
- Sfântu Gheorghe, Funeral Chapel (1996);
- Miercurea Ciuc, Roman Catholic Church (2001).
- His group also oversaw the Eco-Shelter on The Trust For Urban Ecology site in Stave Hill Park, Bermondsey, London, 1992. In association with the Prince's Trust
