For the settlements around Lake Balaton, seasonal use poses a significant challenge, hindering the region’s continuous development. To address this issue, we have designed residential buildings that promote year-round use and provide attractive housing opportunities for professionals operating the region’s public services. Our goal was to strengthen the operation of educational, healthcare, and cultural institutions by retaining skilled workers.

Sustainability was a key focus in designing the residential buildings. The site includes three buildings: two of them accommodate a total of 16 service apartments, while the third contains market-rate apartments. The buildings were designed with an east-west orientation to ensure optimal sunlight exposure and minimize summer overheating. The corridors and balconies provide shading, complemented by built-in aluminum shutters and climbing plants on the façade. Due to the high groundwater level, the buildings were designed without basements, reducing earthworks and construction costs.

The load-bearing structure is made of CLT panels, enabling fast, precise, and environmentally friendly construction. As part of the project requirements, five new trees will be planted per apartment within the settlement.

The façades feature a simple Haidekker mesh, a familiar architectural element commonly found on fences and railings in the Balaton region. This mesh serves not only as a visual characteristic but also as a functional shading and privacy element. Its material-efficient yet highly rigid structure helps maintain the green façade. Few people know that this is a Hungarian innovation over a hundred years old.

For the residential community, we have created a kitchen garden and a playground to foster social interaction. The once underutilized area has been transformed into an accessible and aesthetically pleasing green space, featuring a wildflower meadow, rain gardens, and permeable, stabilized gravel pathways.

We hope that our project will not only enhance the region’s ability to retain its population but also create a long-term sustainable and livable residential environment around Lake Balaton.