Arts Under One Roof

Our exhibition sets out to present the wide-ranging activities of the Museum of Architecture, its new perspectives, and its future home. In the 21st century, a museum is no longer merely a place of preservation and mediation; it serves its community by shaping perspectives, educating, questioning, and offering meaningful experiences.

A unique institution is taking shape in Budapest as part of the Liget museum and cultural quarter. At the heart of the installation stands the new, emblematic building, surrounded by an overview of the museum’s activities. The exhibition follows the structure of the collection’s object groups, while the associated themes highlight the interdisciplinary nature of architecture.

We live in a built environment—within buildings—and architecture fundamentally shapes our lives. In this exhibition, architecture is present everywhere: in sketches, plans, travel drawings, photographs, furniture, lines of correspondence, as well as in the personal objects of architects, and in the overarching narrative they form across time. Each theme functions as a time capsule: we view the mysterious treasures of the past through the lens of the present, while also addressing the future.

We believe that a museum of architecture must play an important role in society. A key part of its mission is to foster a responsible attitude toward the built environment and to encourage a personal appreciation for architectural quality.

While no exhibition can encompass the entirety of the world or our collection, we hope to offer an engaging cross-section of it. And the desire to explore will not fade—indeed, we look forward to welcoming all visitors again in the museum’s future exhibition spaces.

Hungarian Museum of Architecture and Monument Protection Documentation Centre (MÉM MDK)
Cover image: Model of the award-winning design by BIVAK and Tér és Forma Architectural Office. Photo: Gábor F. Tóth