MONOLITHIC TERRAZZO
Along the Roman heritage
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: BEATRIX TORMA
During the renovation of the Sopron Museum, the designers and Iamart selected the flooring material based on the Roman-era terrazzo discovered on-site. The layout's dual colour scheme evokes the outlines of the unearthed Roman fortifications.
SOPRON MUSEUM
MONOLITHIC TERRAZZO
Inhabited since ancient times, Sopron, a city abundant in historic events, a free royal town since 1277, a Hungarian city by its own will, Civitas Fidelissima, the most loyal city, was already an important settlement during the Roman Empire. Modeled after Italian cities, Scrabantia had a forum (main square), a curia, a capitolium, an amphitheater and public baths with underfloor heating. The idea of establishing a municipal museum can also be traced back to the Roman periods historical heritage, as the continuous discovery of Roman-era artefacts inspired four exceptionally knowledgeable local patriots - including the architect, restorer and archaeologist Ferenc Storno, founder of the Storno Collection - to establish an association for the preservation of artefacts.
The museum, established in the 1860s and expanding over nearly a century and a half, is housed in several distinct, iconic landmark buildings. The Storno House, the General’s House, the Fabricius House and the Fire Tower embody centuries of historic architecture and cultural heritage.
Sopron Museum Quarter development concept
The development concept for the Sopron Museum Quarter, realized as part of the "Development of the Museum Quarter Connected to the Sopron City Wall and the Ruin Garden for Tourism Purposes" program completed in 2023, aims to connect the interior spaces of the three buildings on Main Square - in addition to the building alterations and renovations, the courtyard covering and the rehabilitation of the hanging garden. In the unique museum complex created at the base of the Fire Tower, fragments of European history from ancient, medieval and baroque periods converge, incorporating contemporary perspectives through reconstruction work, inspired by the spirit of the Venice Charter.
Monolithic terrazzo flooring
Alongside the construction, ongoing archaeological excavations necessitated continuous refinement of the architectural plans, leading to modifications of the originally planned covering as well, based on the Roman terrazzo uncovered during the work.
SOPRON MUSEUM
MONOLITHIC TERRAZZO
Inhabited since ancient times, Sopron, a city abundant in historic events, a free royal town since 1277, a Hungarian city by its own will, Civitas Fidelissima, the most loyal city, was already an important settlement during the Roman Empire. Modeled after Italian cities, Scrabantia had a forum (main square), a curia, a capitolium, an amphitheater and public baths with underfloor heating. The idea of establishing a municipal museum can also be traced back to the Roman periods historical heritage, as the continuous discovery of Roman-era artefacts inspired four exceptionally knowledgeable local patriots - including the architect, restorer and archaeologist Ferenc Storno, founder of the Storno Collection - to establish an association for the preservation of artefacts.
The museum, established in the 1860s and expanding over nearly a century and a half, is housed in several distinct, iconic landmark buildings. The Storno House, the General’s House, the Fabricius House and the Fire Tower embody centuries of historic architecture and cultural heritage.
Collaborating with Iamart, the designers selected the material and grain size of the pavement based on the Roman terrazzo uncovered. The dual colour scheme in the layout of the covering recalls the outlines of the discovered Roman fortress wall, just like the placement of the steel profiles. Based on samples taken from the excavated Roman terrazzo pavement, Iamart produced several samples, from which the final appearance of the monolithic terrazzo flooring was determined in collaboration with the architects, an art historian and the investor.
The Sopron Museum Quarter project won the Construction Industry Excellence Award in the category of monument restoration and rehabilitation in 2023, while the Hungarian Urban Planning Association awarded the municipality of Sopron with a special prize.
Sopron Museum Quarter development concept
The development concept for the Sopron Museum Quarter, realized as part of the "Development of the Museum Quarter Connected to the Sopron City Wall and the Ruin Garden for Tourism Purposes" program completed in 2023, aims to connect the interior spaces of the three buildings on Main Square - in addition to the building alterations and renovations, the courtyard covering and the rehabilitation of the hanging garden. In the unique museum complex created at the base of the Fire Tower, fragments of European history from ancient, medieval and baroque periods converge, incorporating contemporary perspectives through reconstruction work, inspired by the spirit of the Venice Charter.
Monolithic terrazzo flooring
Alongside the construction, ongoing archaeological excavations necessitated continuous refinement of the architectural plans, leading to modifications of the originally planned covering as well, based on the Roman terrazzo uncovered during the work.
Architecture: Archi.Doc Architectural Office Ltd.
Lead designer: Dávid Józsa
Architectural design associate: András Cseh
Architectural team members: Ádám Tátrai, Dávid Németh, Attila Erdei
Interior design: Sarolta Bihari
Landscape Architecture: Gábor Pintér
General Designer: Consortium of Fertődi Building and Service Ltd. and Szabó & Partners Interior Design Ltd.
Project Manager: National Heritage Protection Development Nonprofit Ltd.
Contractors: Kozma Ltd., Alukonstrukt Ltd., Iamart Ltd.
Design: 2015-2019
Construction: 2020-2023
Developed within the framework of the National Castle Programme and the National Fortress Programme.
Collaborating with Iamart, the designers selected the material and grain size of the pavement based on the Roman terrazzo uncovered. The dual colour scheme in the layout of the covering recalls the outlines of the discovered Roman fortress wall, just like the placement of the steel profiles. Based on samples taken from the excavated Roman terrazzo pavement, Iamart produced several samples, from which the final appearance of the monolithic terrazzo flooring was determined in collaboration with the architects, an art historian and the investor.
The Sopron Museum Quarter project won the Construction Industry Excellence Award in the category of monument restoration and rehabilitation in 2023, while the Hungarian Urban Planning Association awarded the municipality of Sopron with a special prize.
Architecture: Archi.Doc Architectural Office Ltd.
Lead designer: Dávid Józsa
Architectural design associate: András Cseh
Architectural team members: Ádám Tátrai, Dávid Németh, Attila Erdei
Interior design: Sarolta Bihari
Landscape Architecture: Gábor Pintér
General Designer: Consortium of Fertődi Building and Service Ltd. and Szabó & Partners Interior Design Ltd.
Project Manager: National Heritage Protection Development Nonprofit Ltd.
Contractors: Kozma Ltd., Alukonstrukt Ltd., Iamart Ltd.
Design: 2015-2019
Construction: 2020-2023
Developed within the framework of the National Castle Programme and the National Fortress Programme.
