Social gateway – Reformed dormitory

architect

Illyés Anikó

architectural consultant:
Kovács Péter DLA

Functional Concept

Prior to the design process, I explored the concept of the vibrant urban environment, during which it became clear how vital physical and metaphorical urban connection points are. In an alternative housing-education model, a hybrid community structure can emerge—shaped both by shared interests and by geographic proximity—enabling intergenerational learning. The growing teacher shortage in Hungary’s public education system, along with demographic shifts, highlights the need for alternative educational approaches.

I developed a youth dormitory model that can serve both university and secondary school students: higher education students would assist high schoolers in their studies as mentors, contributing their knowledge and time in exchange for housing. This reciprocal model has historical precedent in the Reformed College of Debrecen, where older students once tutored younger ones, creating not only a knowledge-sharing platform but also a framework for community engagement.

In identifying a site for this proposal, it became evident that the block’s interior required a comprehensive transformation. The southwestern part of the block is a transitional zone: from Iskola Street, traditional cívisház (low-rise civic townhouses) still remain, while on Vásáry István Street, three- to four-story apartment buildings are predominant. One of these structures does not open to the core of the block – the new building connects to its blank firewall, also integrating the corner civis house into the proposal. My goal is to preserve the site’s identity by retaining the historical building and existing vegetation. Students arriving from smaller towns will thus recognize familiar spatial cues, allowing them to feel at home in their new urban surroundings.

Architectural Concept

The relationship between old and new is expressed through a clear spatial and architectural distinction, paying homage to the existing cívisház. The original single-story structure consists of sequential living units. By removing interior partitions, a series of open, interconnected spaces is created: the front zone along the street becomes a library, while the rear garden-facing section transforms into a communal prayer room.

The new dormitory building provides residential accommodation for the students. The linkage between the two volumes is established through a shared garden and greenery, which also shapes the atmosphere of the interior. A porous architectural layer - manifesting in the façade and light wells - allows the surrounding environment to permeate the space. The entrance zone is a lively semi-open, covered space, connecting directly to a central multifunctional common area.

The ground floor's programmatic flexibility is ensured by movable platforms and sliding partition walls mounted on rails. During events, this system allows for the temporary closure of the gymnasium, which is designed in a sunken position, taking advantage of the site's elevation difference.

On the upper floors, vertical light wells organize the internal circulation. Dorm rooms are arranged on both sides of a central corridor. Two distinct room types are provided: on the eastern side, four-bed rooms are allocated to secondary students, promoting community living. Due to differing lifestyles, university students are accommodated in compact, apartment-like units for two people - more private, but not full apartments yet.

The rooms are interwoven by a shared communal area - an extended living room that provides space for interaction between the two age groups, enabling mentoring, collaborative learning, and relaxation. The idea of a "social gateway" extends beyond block-scale urban rehabilitation; it also defines the internal operation of the college. The design expresses interlayer connectivity - both among students and through the architecture.