Marone House
The residential building at Horváth Mihály Square offers modern living spaces while integrating seamlessly into the historic urban fabric. The uniquely massed structure that spans the block creates bright inner courtyards and a well-organized circulation system, resulting in livable, contemporary apartments.
Site placement and integration
The project was developed to utilize two long-vacant lots cutting across the northern block of Horváth Mihály Square. The square is one of Józsefváros’s central areas, with a historical development spanning from 18th-century parceling to the intensive construction of the turn of the 19th–20th centuries. Key elements of the surroundings include the Church of St. Joseph and the József Telephone Exchange Palace, built in the early 20th century.
The new building is realized as a multi-apartment residential house, spanning both lots and extending onto József Street. The design of the inner courtyard was adjusted to the courtyard proportions of the elevated building at No. 16, while the finely detailed building at No. 14 served as an important scale reference. The building’s height complies with regulations while favorably shielding the neighboring party walls.
The façade facing Horváth Mihály Square is restrained and harmonizes with its surroundings, while the József Street side presents a simpler version. The massing and façade rhythm aim to create a cohesive and generous urban image despite the dense development.
Interior layout
The building’s circulation system is primarily open, featuring exterior corridors. Alongside these corridors, smaller and larger courtyards extend down to the ground floor to provide natural light and ventilation. One section is enclosed, running along the narrower portion of the lot facing József Street. All three stairwells are open and each is equipped with a lift. Stairwells 1 and 2 with their lifts reach the 8th floor, while stairwell 3 with its lift reaches the 7th floor. All three stairwells are smoke-free as exterior spaces and connect to the basement with a lobby, ensuring fire safety.
Apartments open off both the open and enclosed corridors. Smaller windows face the corridors, while larger windows face the inner courtyards, typically with balconies or terraces. The units facing the street also feature large windows and balconies. Floors 2–5 have identical layouts, while from the 6th floor upward, the number of apartments decreases. Wherever possible, larger multi-room apartments were designed, with expansive roof terraces, creating a more articulated and lighter massing. This contributes to a dynamic, visually appealing overall form and accommodates the necessary height setbacks.
Energy
On the 7th, 8th, and roof levels, a total of 11 heat pumps were installed to meet the building’s heating and hot water needs. In the design of Marone House, great emphasis was placed on energy efficiency, including a modern thermal insulation system, heat-pump-based heating and cooling, the creation of green roofs for rainwater retention, and intelligent building engineering systems.
