Rocks on the Plateau – The Rock Cabins
The design cabins were built in a hidden corner of the Balaton Uplands.

An ongoing challenge in Hungary is how to provide solutions to the problems of depopulating, aging villages with few job opportunities. The development of tourism in rural, peripheral areas can be key to this issue – attracting visitors to the region, creating jobs for locals, and boosting the local economy.

Our architecture firm has been concerned from the beginning with how to contribute to communities through architecture and the built environment, and their educational program focuses on improving the quality of life for residents in small Hungarian settlements through architectural tools by involving and listening to the needs of the locals. As part of their educational activities, we purchased a 2-hectare plot in 2016 in the exceptionally beautiful Balaton Uplands to serve as the venue for their international summer school and festival.

In Csóromfölde, a small area near Kapolcs surrounded by rolling hills, livestock was kept and grazed by the owners of the neighboring manor centuries ago. Our program breathed new life into this ancient settlement: during international creative camps, an ephemeral village was built by architecture students, among other things. Later, the architecture firm sought new functions with the aim of utilizing the area to contribute to the revitalization of the region – embarking on a tourism development that respects and cherishes the tranquility of the surrounding villages and the natural environment but brings life to the area, which only buzzes with activity during the summer.

In an unusual move for our architecture firm – in a new role as “architect-entrepreneur”, both architect and real estate developer – took on the development of the accommodations themselves. Hidden among the grove’s trees, 6 unique cabins and a reception building were built, marking our first self-designed, self-constructed, and self-operated accommodation.

“The area where we held our camps has become very dear to us over the years,” says co-founder and managing director. “However, it was clear that after the summer festivals, Csóromfölde and the surrounding villages stood empty for most of the year. We are pleased that, from now on, we can provide jobs for locals not only through construction but also through year-round operation.”

Our design team envisioned buildings that enhance the enchanted atmosphere of the plateau, surrounded by fields and integrating seamlessly into nature. The monolithic appearance of the cabins, called “Szikla” (Rock), reminiscent of giant runestones, is emphasized by the fact that the building masses only open at the terrace and entrance cuts, with no windows or staircases breaking the homogeneous, sculptural form.