Case study

CASE STUDY

Zsuzsa Szalay (Budapest University of Technology and Economics)

As a case study for refurbishment conception modelling, a building in Hungary is presented. The building at Almássy square Budapest was completed in 1986 and originally functioned as a cultural centre. On one hand the house stands as an important piece of the city’s modern and brutalist heritage, and on the other hand as a remembrance of the intense changes of historical age, bearing memories of many iconic cultural moments. Although the building is not protected, the investor has taken the decision to salvage its values, both as built object and as recognizable spaces of earlier cultural key events. Luckily this meets the expectations of the communities of former users and of the neighbours.
The future function will be a new generation hotel, with dynamic and flexible room divisions, including an open and transparent program that draws the mentioned local communities here as well. Great space for hosting visitors that want to interact with history, culture, and locals. To see if this plan is realistic, the Client first worked together with a design consultancy firm (SABDC) that proved on 2D drawings (pre-concept plans) that the surface and legislation is efficient for such a function, and had a look at the reinforced concrete structure if it can bear it. After this point they contracted an architecture office (LAB5 architects) to provide full design according to the program. They had to develop an idea where the values and icons of the original building can be saved, and the new concept can be served on high level. During the design process documentation was prepared in the following stages.

01. Research & Survey

• Collection of documentation from city archive (scanning);
• Collection of documentation from original designers, architecture, structure (scanning), original plans, calculations, photos;
• Site visits (photography);
• Consultancies;
• Research by art historian (description);
• Collection of old publication from architectural magazines (photos, criticism, plans scanning);
• Point cloud survey of the recent situation by geodet;
• Traditional survey (laser mater) of details and some hidden elements;
• All above elements catalogized digital archiving;
• All above information merged together in a digital 3D model.

02 Concept plan

Digital 3D model:
- Fulfilling and including

• result of research and survey;
• functional needs;
• architectural solution;
• draft interior design solution;
• technical solution;
• legislation expectations,

- All elements grouped as:

• existing originals (from completion year);
• existing amendments and modifications (since completion);
• proposed demolitions;
• proposed new items.

03 Jury Plan

Introduction of the concept for the city municipality and district jury, documentation of:

• 2D drawings;
• 3D renderings;
• 3D printed model.

04 Building Permit Documentation

From the accepted concept development of a digital 3D model of proposed solution, focusing on technical, legislation, and aesthetical solutions.

• 2D drawings;
• 3D renderings;
• Descriptions;
• Calculations;
• Diagrams.

From this stage all co-engineers have to use the same digital 3D information and collaborate on the proposal together. At the level of building permit:

• Civil engineer provides calculations of structure;
• Mechanical and electrical engineers provide 3D data on the main pathways and bigger installations.

05 Interior Design Concept

After acceptance of concept, this stage runs parallel with jury plan, supports the building permit documentation.

06 Execution Documentation

Based on the binding building permit and approved interior design concept, all spatial design (architect, landscape designer, interior designer) runs in one single stage, in tight collaboration with co-engineers, hotel developer, hotel brand management, hotel maintenance and other service providers of the building. All information is processed and the result is documented in a single digital 3D model that can be read in:

• 2D drawings;
• 3D renderings;
• 3D printed model;
• Charts and listings (BoQ’s and other).

07 Site Supervision

Parts and details documented and/or updated of digital 3D model during construction as per demands of investor and contractor. Following changes.

08 As Built Plan

The digital 3D model to be updated to the built final solution, based on information of contractor.

09 Facility Management

The 3D model can be used after completion of project for the following purposed:
- Facility Management of the building;

• scheduled maintenance;
• unexpected damages troubleshooting;
• refining operation, checking efficiency;

- Future of the building:

• planning scheduled renovations;
• close future: planning possible solutions for new expectations;
• far future: analysis of possible new programs at the end of the lifecycle of the exiting function;
• at the end of life cycle of building, analysis of possibilities to salvage the building: demolition plans or transformation plans and wate management.