Dec 21, 20192 min read

Budapest: Ethnographic Museum New Design that looks like a Skatepark

Updated: Jul 20, 2020

General Info 📚

The Museum of Ethnography in Budapest is one of the largest ethnography museums in Europe.
If you are into travel photos, and National Geographic photography, you will love this place.
It was founded as the Ethnographic Department of the Hungarian National Museum in 1872
The museum focuses on the way of life, culture and art of the Hungarian peasantry.
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The Old Design 🗿

The building that hosts the museum today, was originally built by Alajos Haussmann (1847-1926) for the Ministry of Justice

After World War II, damages to the building were repaired and the entire palatial construction renovated by the architect Elemér Csánk. In 1950 the Institute of the Hungarian Labour Movement moved into the building. Later, in April 1957, it was occupied by the Institute of Party History and the Hungarian National Gallery. The Museum of Ethnography moved in in 1973.

Ticket prices 🎟

1400 HUF full-price adult tickets,

700 HUF children (and EU citizens under 26)

Opening Hours at the Hungarian Museum of Ethnography, Budapest

Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm (closed on Mondays)

The Ultimate tour guide of Budapest

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The New Design 🏗

In 2016, a competition to determine the designer the museum of ethnography in Hungary resulted in a shortlist of 15 high-profile teams. The winner of the contest was locally-based firm Napur Architect, who beat established names such as BIG, OMA, and Zaha Hadid Architects to win the commission.

The new building forms part of liget Budapest, a vast development that involves the complete rehabilitation of the centrally located city park. as part of the masterplan, scheduled to complete by 2020.

As part of light Budapest, the collection that comprises the museum of ethnography will be housed in a purpose-built facility for the first time.

Napur architect describes its design as having dynamic yet simple lines that both harmonize with the park environment and communicate with the surrounding urban area.

Positioned at the edge of the park, the project has been conceived as a gateway to the city that allows pedestrians to access its two green roofs. In fact, sixty per cent of the structure will be below ground, with its two ends curving upwards to bring in natural light and provide additional floor space.